Dibrugarh University (DU) of Assam conferred D.Litt. Honoris Causa on eminent educationist and social entrepreneur Dr. Achyuta Samanta of Odisha in its 15th convocation held on 2nd January 2016. The Governor of Assam and Chancellor of DU, Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya presided over the convocation ceremony. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Chancellor of Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, New Delhi, Justice Mukundakam Sharma; DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Alak Kumar Buragohain, and other eminent guests were also present.

The university conferred the honorary D.Litt on Dr. Samanta in absentia, as he is in Mysuru to attend 103rd session of the Indian Science Congress. The name of Dr. Samanta for the honour was approved six months ago by the Chancellor and Governor of Assam following recommendation of Syndicate and Senate of the DU. Dr. Samanta was awarded the honorary D. Litt for his outstanding contribution in the field of education and social work. A noted litterateur, scholar of eminence and social worker of Assam was also conferred the honorary D.Litt along with Dr. Samanta.

In his welcome address, VC Dr. Buragohain said, the University is highly pleased and feels privileged to confer the Degree of D. Litt honoris causa on Dr. Samanta, who has served for the promotion of education among the poor and the downtrodden. Governor and Chancellor Shri Acharya, CM Shri Tarun Gogoi and Justice Sharma also praised Dr. Samanta for his continuous effort towards eradication of poverty through education and social work. Shri Gogoi said, conferring the honour on an eminent personality like Dr. Samanta is a matter of pride for the State of Assam. Shri Acharya thanked the VC of DU for selecting Dr. Samanta, while Chief Guest Justice Sharma appreciated the University authorities selecting Dr. Samanta.

Expressing his satisfaction, Dr. Samanta expressed gratitude to DU for the honour. Dibrugarh University, the easternmost University of India was set up in 1965 under the provisions of the Dibrugarh University Act, 1965 enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly. The University has around 200 affiliated and permitted colleges and institutes to achieve its goal of dissemination of knowledge and generation of human resource.