Vaishali, Bihar: Senior journalist and educationist Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar, a resident of Vaishali district in Bihar, has been conferred with the prestigious honorary degree of Vidyasagar (D.Litt.) by Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapeeth, Ishipur-Barahat, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to human rights journalism, education, literature, the promotion of the Hindi language, and the preservation and promotion of Indian culture.
The honour was presented during the Vidyapeeth’s 27th Annual Convention-cum-Awards Ceremony. The achievement has brought pride and happiness to Vaishali and Bihar, as well as to the wider journalistic and literary fraternity.
The grand ceremony was held on November 1, 2026, at Keshariwal Dharmashala in Ishipur, Bhagalpur district. The programme was presided over by the Vidyapeeth’s Chancellor, Ramjanam Mishra, while Dr. Premchand Pandey conducted the proceedings.
Local MLA Murari Paswan, along with other dignitaries on the dais, inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Neha Kumari added to the dignity of the occasion with the presentation of the institutional anthem and welcome song.
During the programme, the Vidyapeeth’s Registrar, Dr. Devendra Nath Sah, presented the annual report. In the felicitation session, Hindi writers, scholars and distinguished personalities from different states of the country were honoured with prestigious titles, including Vidyasagar, Vidya Vachaspati, Sahitya Bhushan and Kavi Ratna.
Among the distinguished awardees, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar received the honorary Vidyasagar (D.Litt.) degree for his multidimensional contributions to society, education, literature and journalism.
Significant Role in Connecting Human Rights Journalism with Social Issues
Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar is a senior journalist from Bihar, human rights activist, educationist and an active contributor to literary and cultural activities.
He is the Editor of Human Rights Today and President of the Bihar chapter of the SAARC Journalists Forum.
For many years, he has been actively working through journalism to protect human rights, promote social justice, raise the voices of marginalised and weaker sections of society, and strengthen democratic values.
His journalism extends beyond the publication of news reports. Highlighting social inequalities, human rights violations, social discrimination and issues of public concern has remained an important part of his professional commitment.
He has also consistently worked towards strengthening human rights journalism across SAARC countries while encouraging international cooperation, dialogue and goodwill among journalists.
Important Contribution to the Field of Education
Alongside journalism, Dr. Kumar has made significant contributions to education. He is the Director of Tagore Kids and High School in Hajipur.
Believing that education is a powerful instrument of social transformation, he has consistently advocated the development of moral values, social awareness, respect for Indian culture and appreciation for one’s mother tongue among students.
He is also associated with various literary and cultural platforms working for the promotion of Hindi language and literature.
His efforts to uphold the dignity of the mother tongue, encourage the growth of Hindi literature and pass on India’s rich cultural heritage to the younger generation have been noteworthy.
Efforts to Give Vaishali’s Historical Heritage National and International Recognition
Promoting the historical, cultural and democratic heritage of Vaishali, regarded as the world’s first republic, on national and international platforms has also been an important part of Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar’s work.
He has continuously worked to bring wider recognition to Bihar’s glorious traditions, historical monuments and cultural achievements.
He believes that journalism, literature and education are powerful instruments for guiding society towards positive change. Guided by this philosophy, he has consistently focused on social responsibility, human values, national unity and international harmony.
Recipient of Several National and International Honours
Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar has previously received several national and international recognitions for his contributions to journalism, human rights, education, literature and culture.
He has also been honoured with the prestigious title of Vidya Vachaspati.
In addition, South American Western University conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to the field of human rights.
The honorary Vidyasagar (D.Litt.) degree awarded by Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapeeth marks another significant milestone in recognition of his longstanding social, intellectual and professional contributions.
Writers from Several States Honoured; New Executive Committee Constituted
During the 27th Annual Convention of Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapeeth, several writers and literary personalities from different parts of the country were felicitated.
Among those honoured were B.K. Dobhal from Dehradun, Zameen Ansari from Nagpur, Ram Kumar Jha from Kolkata, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar from Vaishali, Vinod Kumar Rai from Bhagalpur, Gopal Narsan, Ravindra Kumar Ratan from Hajipur and Dr. Anand Bhardwaj from Haridwar.
Several other literary personalities from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi were also recognised.
On the occasion, a new executive committee of the Vidyapeeth was unanimously constituted. Devendra Nath Sah was elected Chancellor, Dr. Premchand Pandey as Vice-Chancellor and Pritam Kumar as Registrar.
The third session of the event featured a grand poetry conference, in which more than two dozen poets presented their original compositions.
The participating poets included Mahendra Nishakar, B.K. Dobhal, Jameel Ansari, Vinod Kumar Rai, Jayant Jald, Sachchidanand Kiran, Ram Kumar Jha Nikunj, Sudama Mahto, Yogesh Kaushal, Dr. Indubhushan Mishra, Devendu and Neha Kumari, among others.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Premchand Pandey.
Congratulations Pour in from Across the World
Following the conferment of the honorary Vidyasagar (D.Litt.) degree upon Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar, journalists, writers, educationists and social activists from India and abroad extended their heartfelt congratulations.
Among those conveying their wishes were journalists Rahul Samantha and Athila Kothalawala from Sri Lanka; journalist Raju Lama from Nepal; journalist Abdul Rahman from Bangladesh; Bamchi from Bhutan; Dr. Mridul Kirti from the United States; Shalini Verma and Vineeta Kanwar from Qatar; Vandana Khurana and Tejendra Sharma from London; Rammani Tiwari from Bahrain; Sunita Sharma from Australia; Sunil Setpaul from Thailand; Rama Takshak from the Netherlands; and Sneh Thakur from Canada.
Several other distinguished personalities also joined in congratulating him on this achievement.
They described the honour as recognition of Dr. Kumar’s years of hard work, dedication, perseverance and commitment to society.
They also expressed hope that he would continue making significant contributions to human rights journalism, education, literature, the promotion of Hindi language and the preservation of Indian cultural heritage.
Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar’s achievement stands as a testament to the fact that when journalism is driven by social responsibility, education by human values, and literature by cultural consciousness, their influence can transcend geographical boundaries and reach the international stage.
