Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha has reportedly claimed in a viral video that father of nation had no law degree and that that belief that he was a law graduate from London is a misgiving.
Media reports say that Sinha made these remarks while delivering the Ram Manohar Lohia Memorial Lecture at ITM University in Gawalior. He said, “…It is a wrong notion that Gandhiji had a law degree. Do you know that he had no university degree? His sole qualification was High School diploma. He acquired ability to practice law but he had no degree. However, he was very educated.”
He added that “Gandhiji did a lot for the country. But whatever he achieved, its central idea was truth. If we analyse all aspects of his life, we will find only truth and nothing else. He never shunned the path of truth despite facing acutely challenging situations. He listened to the voice of his conscience. As a result, he became the father of the nation.”
Fact Check:
In order to know the veracity of the claim made by L-G Sinha’s on Gandhi, the DFRAC team searched some keywords on Google. We came across an article written by BR Nanda, former director of Nehru Museum and Library, on the website of Encyclopedia Britannica. All the facts in this article have been verified by the editors of encyclopedia.
According to this authentic article, Gandhiji’s full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. He got his primary education in Porbandar itself.
The article further says that Gandhiji completed his matriculation in 1887 from Bombay University (now Mumbai University) and then took admission in Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. Later, despite warnings from family members that if he goes abroad for studies he would be expelled from his clan and caste, he set out for England for his higher studies in September 1888. Out of four law colleges of London (the temples), he took admission in Inner Temple.
Same knowledge about Gandhiji’s admission in law course in London has been shared by his wikipedia page and website mkgandhi.org.
Besides, renowned media houses like BBC, etc, have also repeatedly reported that Gandhiji was educated in law in London.
The DFRAC team also found original certificate of Gandhiji’s registration as barrister in London on the website agefotostock that keeps record of historical photographs and certificates.
In addition, the DFRAC team found photographs of Gandhiji’s residence where he lived during his time as law student in London on the website english-heritage.org.
Conclusion:
It is crystal clear from the DFRAC fact-check that J&K l-G Manoj Sinha’s claim about Gandhiji not having a law degree is wrong.
