Kolkata, Dec 9 (IANS): Eminent kathak exponent Birju Maharaj and renowned physicist T.V. Ramakrishnan were on Wednesday conferred the D.Litt and D.Sc at the annual convocation of Calcutta University.

Ramakrishnan is a fellow of The Royal Society, London, and was accorded the honour in absentia.

Former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi was honoured with the Ashutosh Mukherjee Memorial Medal in absentia, while celebrated physician Khalid Hameed received the D.Sc (honoris causa) at the ceremony presided by Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi, who is also the university chancellor. Vice Chancellor Sugata Marjit was also present.

D.Litt (honoris causa) were also given to US-based social scientist and historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam, and Bengali poet Joy Goswami.

As many as 474 candidates were awarded Ph.D, M.Phil, M.Tech, MCH (Master of Surgery) and ME(PH) degrees.

The devastating Chennai floods prevented K. Vijay Raghavan, secretary in the Department of Biotechnology from attending the ceremony.

Former governor Gandhi's absence was also due to the floods.

Raghavan, also a fellow of The Royal Society, was forced to deliver the convocation address via telephone while Gandhi in a letter to the vice chancellor apologised for his inability to make it to Kolkata.

"Raghavan's mother was stranded on a rooftop for three days in Chennai during the floods and is in the ICU. He is unable to make it to the convocation as he is visiting his mother," vice chancellor Marjit announced to the audience of students and teachers.

Gandhi, who received the Ashutosh Mukherjee Memorial Medal in absentia, said in his letter that "dislocations" have been "severe" in Chennai.

As per Gandhi's request, Marjit said his medal and citation will be delivered at his residence.

In his address, Governor Tripathi congratulated Marjit for maintaining "peace and tranquillity" on campus, which earlier this year was marred by student protests.