C.M. Paul
New Delhi – Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) awarded Doctor of Philosophy Degree to a Catholic priest from Darjeeling at its convocation ceremony held in New Delhi, 13 April 2017.
Salesian Father Babu Joseph of Calcutta province was the proud recipient of the degree.
Fr Babu Joseph on 19 August 2016 successfully defended doctoral research on Travel and Tourism on the hill station destination of Darjeeling.
He now stakes his claim “to be the first priest to do a doctoral thesis in this mundane area of study.”
His thesis under the supervision of Professor Syed Inayet Ali Zaidi is entitled; The Emergence of Darjeeling District in West Bengal as a Tourist Destination: A Perspective.”
The thesis was submitted and successfully defended for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality Services at IGNOU School of Tourism and Hospitality Services Management, New Delhi.
“The proposed work is an attempt to take a look at the past hoping to find some answers for the present maladies affecting the region while carving out a vision for the future that can chart the future expansion of Darjeeling as a world class tourist destination which will enchant the traveling millions,” Fr Joseph explains.
Dr Babu Joseph is currently Head of Department of History at Salesian College Sonada and Director of DB Tech Skill Training Project at Sonada training 62 local youth for hospitality industry.