The Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy honored Prof. Raghavendra Prasad Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab), with the prestigious "Rashtriya Shiksha Ratna Samman" during its 28th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony on Sunday at the Punjab Press Club in Jalandhar. This award recognizes Prof. Tiwari’s outstanding contributions and dedicated service to the field of education over more than four decades.
The honor was presented by Dr. Simar Sadosh, President of the Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including S. Satnam Singh Manak (Executive Editor, Ajit Publications), Dr. Jagdeep Singh (Academy Founding Director), Mr. Swapan Sharma (IPS, Jalandhar Police Commissioner), Mr. Manoranjan Kalia (Former Minister in Punjab Government), Mr. Rajinder Berry, Prof. Kamlesh Singh Duggal (OSD, Guru Nanak Dev University College), Captain Bhagat Singh (President, Merchant Navy Association), and others.
In a warm gesture, Prof. Tiwari was welcomed with Punjab’s cultural symbol, Phulkari, during the ceremony. Dr. Nidhi Sharma, Academy Director and Master of Ceremonies, highlighted Prof. Tiwari's significant contributions not only to the university but also to Punjab's education and cultural domains since his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of CU Punjab in August 2020. She emphasized his role in advancing Punjab’s representation in national and international educational spheres and his contributions to promoting Punjabi culture and the teachings of Sikh Gurus.
Under Prof. Tiwari’s leadership, CU Punjab has achieved significant milestones, including earning an A+ grade in NAAC’s second-cycle assessment and securing the 83rd position in the NIRF India Rankings 2024 (University Category). Dr. Sharma also reflected on Prof. Tiwari’s eco-conscious lifestyle and extensive academic career. Over his four-decade-long journey, Prof. Tiwari served at Mizoram University for 31 years in various academic and administrative roles, and later as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, for over five years—where he had also completed his post-graduate studies.
For the past four years, he has been leading CU Punjab as its Vice-Chancellor. He has also contributed to several high-level committees under the Ministry of Education and UGC and currently holds additional responsibilities as the Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla.
Expressing gratitude upon receiving the award, Prof. Tiwari dedicated the honor to Maa Bharti and reaffirmed his commitment to empowering youth and transforming CUP into a global center of excellence. He urged all citizens to serve their homeland with dedication and repay their debt to the nation through selfless contributions.
The conferment of honor “Rashtriya Shiksha Ratna Samman’ on Prof. Tiwari by the Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy is a proud moment for the entire university community.