Amitabh Bachchan, Amitav Ghosh, 5 others nominated for

The Academic Council of the Visva-Bharati university has nominated Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, eminent author Amitav Ghosh, and four others for conferring the Desikottam, the university's highest accolade.

Besides the two, veteran lyricist Gulzar, writer Suniti Kumar Pathak, singer Dwijen Mukherjee, scientist Ashok Sen and painter Jogen Chowdhury were also nominated for the award, Visva-Bharati officiating vice-chancellor Sabujkali Sen said.

"Theses names will be recommended to the Executive Council of the university and finally sent to the Chancellor, who is the Prime Minister, for final approval," Sen said.

Desikottam is awarded to distinguished persons at the central university's convocation, the date of which has not yet been fixed for this year.

Sen said, "We hope the Prime Minister will attend the convocation.