New Delhi | Prof. K. K. Aggarwal, President of South Asian University (SAU), was honoured at a special award ceremony held at the SAU campus for his exceptional contributions to higher education and nation building. The award was jointly conferred by Summit India, in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The award was presented by Shri Shyam Jaju, Chairman, Summit India, in the presence of eminent dignitaries including Justice Lokpal Singh (Retd.), Acting Chief Justice and Co-Chairman, Summit India; Kunwar Vikram Singh, Co-Chairman, Summit India and Former Security Advisor to the Prime Minister; Prof. Mahesh Verma, Secretary General, Summit India and Advisor, NCSC, Government of India; and Smt. Shilpa Puri, CEO, Summit India. Faculty members and senior officials of South Asian University were also present on the occasion.
The honour recognises Prof. Aggarwal’s exemplary leadership and lifelong commitment to strengthening academic institutions, fostering innovation, and shaping policies that promote inclusive and future-oriented education across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahesh Verma, Secretary General, Summit India, highlighted the organisation’s key initiatives, including its efforts to position India as a “Friend of the World” and a strong voice of the Global South, bridging Western and emerging economies. He also spoke about Summit India’s work in supporting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in select South African nations, its allocation of land for the construction of a Ram Temple in Kenya, and its focus on promoting indigenous strength, innovation, and alignment with national development goals.
Referring to Prof. Aggarwal’s academic journey, Prof. Verma described him as an exemplary institution builder, noting that he began by establishing a university from modest beginnings and went on to create one of the country’s first government-run universities that affiliates private institutions. This model, he observed, played a transformative role in addressing the shortage of higher education institutions in urban centres and preventing the loss and underutilisation of young academic talent.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Shyam Jaju, Chairman, Summit India, reflected on the organisation’s founding vision and its commitment to the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He stated that Summit India, in partnership with AICTE, has been working to strengthen educational cooperation across Indian states and several African nations.
Calling Prof. Aggarwal “above the award,” Shri Jaju remarked, “Honouring such an educationist is, in itself, an honour for Summit India. Prof. K. K. Aggarwal has played an instrumental role in building institutions such as Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and South Asian University, and his enduring influence on educational policy and governance across the country is widely acknowledged. He has set a benchmark for the education sector, with contributions that extend far beyond individual institutions and continue to guide educators and policymakers nationwide,”
Shri Jaju emphasised that while governments play a central role in a democracy, the contribution of civil society and organisations such as Summit India is equally vital to the process of nation building.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Prof. K. K. Aggarwal expressed his gratitude to Summit India for conferring the award and for organising the ceremony at the SAU campus. Appreciating the organisation’s impactful work in a short span of time, he reiterated the central role of education in strengthening democracy, social justice, and national development.
Highlighting SAU’s unique mandate, he stated, “South Asian University is the only university in the world supported by the governments of eight SAARC nations and functions as a research-driven institution aimed at addressing shared regional challenges through collective knowledge and resources.”
He further observed that while collaboration among NGOs, private institutions, and civil society is important, education, healthcare, and justice remain the foundational pillars of the nation, and the primary responsibility for strengthening these sectors rests with the government and the public system.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Aggarwal thanked Summit India, and AICTE for the honour and expressed his commitment to continued collaboration in advancing education in India and the region.
The ceremony concluded with a shared resolve among all stakeholders to work collectively towards strengthening education as a key driver of societal progress and national development.
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