KOLKATA: Wipro chairman Azim Premji was conferred an honorary doctorate by the IIT, Kharagpur, Saturday at its 60th convocation. The 69-year-old businessman and philanthropist was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Science "for being one of the pioneers of entrepreneurship in modern India through the establishment of Wipro, an organisation deeply committed to values" at the 60th convocation of the institution.

The Indian business tycoon, who celebrated his 70th birthday two days back, was handed the Doctor of Science degree by Bharat Ratna awardee scientist C.N.R. Rao.

The citation said Premji was selected "for being one of the pioneers of entrepreneurship in modern India through the establishment of Wipro, an organization deeply committed to values".

Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K. Radhakrishnan, statistician C.R. Rao, founder and first CEO of Tata Consultancy Services Faqir Chand Kohli, were also among those who received the honorary award.

Premji received the DSc (Honaris Causa) from 'Bharat Ratna' scientist CNR Rao.