In a first, VSNGU in Surat to award posthumous PhD degree

VNSGU Register R C Gadhvi said, “A posthumous Ph.D degree will be given to Mohitkumar Patel, who has passed away. This is for the first time we are giving a posthumous degree in the history of university.”

Mohitkumar, who was as assistant professor at Sheth C D Barfiwala College of Commerce in Surat, was doing his Ph.D on comparative analysis of financial performance of selected plastic companies in India. He had submitted his thesis, which was also approved. However, on September 25, 2020, Mohitkumar suffered a brain stroke and died. His viva for his degree was still pending.

Later, his family members approached VSNGU vice chancellor Dr K N Chavda and requested that Patel be conferred the degree posthumously. They also wrote an application in this regard to the university.

Gadhvi said, “On the basis of the application, we raised the issue at the Syndicate meeting and Academic Council… with the consent of all members, a decision was taken to confer posthumous Ph.D degree.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Mohitkumar’s brother Rahul Patel said, “It was my brother’s wish to get a Ph.D degree… he had worked hard on the thesis and submitted it. Only Viva was left when he passed away. But as his wish for a PhD degree remained unfulfilled, we approached Dr K N Chavda.”

“We are happy that the university has accepted our wish and on February 26, Mohit will be awarded his Ph.D degree, which will be accepted by his sons,” he added.