New Delhiΰ₯€ Dr Surendra Kumar of the Department of History, University of Delhi, and Dr Lata of the Department of Hindi, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, have been honoured for their long-standing contributions to education, teachers’ and students’ interests, democratic values and social commitment.
The awards were presented on October 10, 2026, at the Constitution Club of Rajasthan in Jaipur by Dr Manju Baghmar, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Child Empowerment and Public Works, Government of Rajasthan; Rafiq Khan, Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party in the Rajasthan Assembly; and noted scholar Nand Bhardwaj, former Director of Doordarshan.
Both awards recognise their sustained efforts to make education a foundation for national development, social responsibility and the advancement of human potential.
Dr Surendra Kumar, who has been teaching at the University of Delhi for nearly two decades, has served three times as an elected executive member of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA). Through his academic writings, research and activism, he has consistently raised concerns over the privatisation of education, self-financing courses and temporary appointments. His involvement in various movements, including a two-day strike over issues related to the funding of journalism courses at Delhi University, reflects his commitment to safeguarding public education.
He has also consistently advocated equal access to higher education for students from rural and remote areas, while emphasising the need to protect academic freedom, diversity and institutional autonomy in universities.
Dr Lata has served twice as an elected member of the Academic Council of the University of Delhi, where she has actively engaged with academic policy matters and issues concerning teachers and students. Through the Satguru Kripa Mata Savitri Devi Trust, she has also been working to connect underprivileged and resource-deprived communities with educational opportunities, particularly in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Both academics view universities as spaces for independent thought, democratic dialogue and diversity. As convenor and co-convenor of the Dialogue for Academic Justice and the Delhi University Academic Forum, respectively, they have continued to work towards strengthening teachers’ rights, students’ academic freedom and public education.
The honours conferred by Prabhat Post recognise their enduring commitment to education, social welfare and the interests of students, as well as their efforts to uphold democratic and inclusive values in higher education
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