“Honorific Fever” Strikes the Director of Central Hindi Institute Again !

 An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (Central Hindi Institute), is currently headed by Director Prof. Sunil Baburao Kulkarni. He appears to have a recurring fondness for prefixing his official designation with the honorific “Honourable.” At times, this inclination subsides, only to resurface suddenly—almost like a fever. A fresh instance of this tendency was witnessed today at the Institute’s Agra campus.

Under the Malaviya Mission Scheme, a teacher training programme has been launched, which will continue until 7 March. The programme includes a multidisciplinary refresher course and online sessions on the application of ICT in higher education.

On the occasion of the inauguration, a banner was released listing Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabuddhe as the Chief Guest. He is the Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Notably, neither his name nor his designation on the banner carried the prefix “Honourable.”

However, the same banner described the Director of the Central Hindi Institute—Prof. Sunil Baburao Kulkarni—as delivering the presidential address and referred to him as the “Honourable Director.” Several other dignitaries and their designations were also mentioned on the banner, yet the Director was the only individual accorded this honorific. This raises an obvious question: What about the Chief Guest and the others?

It is worth noting that Prof. Kulkarni has long remained a controversial figure due to various issues and administrative developments. Discussions have frequently surfaced regarding his removal or the possible appointment of another individual to the post of Director. Recent controversies involving the UGC and, more recently, Galgotias University had shifted attention away from the Central Hindi Institute. However, today’s development has once again brought the Institute into public discussion.

It is also important to mention that within the Government of India, even officials from the rank of Secretary up to Cabinet Secretary neither use nor permit the use of the prefix “Honourable” for themselves. The post of Director at the Central Hindi Institute is administratively junior even to that of a Joint Secretary in the Government of India. Despite this, Prof. Kulkarni—either personally or through the direction of concerned officials—appears insistent on being addressed as “Honourable” within academic circles.

Indeed, the matter seems significant enough to merit doctoral-level research !