For his devoted efforts in the arena of music, Indian music maestro AR Rahman will be conferred honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during its convocation later this month.

A University statement said, “AMU has decided to confer D. Litt (Honoris Causa) degree on Indian music maestro A R Rahman.”

The varsity's executive council took the decision to award the honorary degree to India’s first Oscar Award winner.

At the 81st annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Rahman won two Oscars, one for best original score and another for best original song with lyricist Gulzar, for Danny Boyle’s record breaking film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

The University will also honor well-known industrialist Ratan Tata, Nano Car technology fame, and M S Swaminathan, father of India's green revolution during the annual convocation to be held on March 25, 2009.

The University has also decided to confer the Honorary degree to renowned Urdu writer Prof. Gopichand Narang, former President of Sahitya Academy.