NEW DELHI: Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajagopalachari and presently Secretary to the President of India, was on Wednesday honoured with the degree of doctorate in Gandhian Studies by the University of Netol in Durban, South Africa.

While receiving the doctorate in Durban for his 800-page thesis on Gandhism, he said the honour goes to his grandparents.

He said: " I receive the doctorate with right hand while my left hand shivers as many of brothers and sisters in Orissa have died in recent cyclone and relief work goes on in the eastern part of India." He said he was proud to be awarded the doctorate by the university that has the distinction of being chaired by Nelson Mandela, who imbibed Gandhism in his life.

Gopala has been in an IAS officer. He had resigned to take up the job of Director of Nehru Centre in London. He was the first Indian Ambassador in South Africa when the diplomatic relations were established between the two countries following end of apartheid in South Africa. END