The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) on Tuesday expressed sadness over not being able to confer an honorary doctorate on Vishwananth Anand because of "insensitive bureaucratic obstructions".
The ICM executive committee has conveyed their deep apology to Anand over this development, its Chairman, Mr M.S. Raghunathan and the secretary, Mr Rajat Tandon, said in a statement.
They said the executive committee of the ICM and University of Hyderabad (UoH) is "deeply saddened by the fact that the special convocation to confer an honorary degree on Vishwananth Anand would not be held because of insensitive bureaucratic obstructions."
The idea of conferring an honorary doctorate was mooted as early as in October 2009. The UoH took up the proposal and did all the necessary work and submitted it for clearance to The HRD ministry, they said.
Despite repeated follow-up by the university, the HRD ministry did not forward this proposal for signature by the President of India, they claimed adding, as a result "this unfortunate turn of events had taken place".
According to ICM, they contacted Anand who said, "I have always played under Indian flag, held an Indian passport right from the time I took first overseas trip. I don't understand. I am in Hyderabad to play (chess) against mathematicians and to enjoy the ICM. So let's us leave it at that."
ICM secretary, Mr Rajat Tandon, told reporters that as per UoH Vice Chancellor Syed Hasnian's direction they had made necessary arrangements for conferring the Ph.D degree on Tuesday itself. "He (Anand) changed his mind and he is not willing to take the degree. He doesn't want it (degree) due to the controversy," Tandon said.
Asked whether Anand has said no, Mr Raghunathan said, "He has not told me".