Introduction
In today’s world, where time, systems, and documentation are involved in every meaningful act, the idea of paying a processing fee for an honorary doctorate often sparks debate. Some see it as commercialization. Others even wrongly label it as “buying” a degree. But is that really true?
When we look deeper, we realize that paying for the process of honouring someone’s lifelong work is not wrong — it’s practical, structured, and necessary. Especially when the recognition is sincere, the procedure is transparent, and the honour is symbolic, not academic.
So let’s explore: is it truly wrong to ask for a fee to carry out something that celebrates years — even decades — of selfless contribution?
Honour Has Value — And So Does the Process
An honorary doctorate is not a product. It is an acknowledgement. But acknowledgment must go through a system. That system includes:
- Collecting and verifying life achievements
- Writing citations and profiles
- Designing and printing certificates
- Hosting a convocation (even digitally)
- Recording and archiving recipient data
- Providing digital access, media releases, and public announcements
None of this is free to execute — even if the honour is free in spirit.
That’s why a one-time processing charge is a reasonable, transparent way to keep the system functioning without making it elite or inaccessible.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
You are not paying for a degree — because this is not an earned academic qualification. Instead, you are supporting:
- The administrative work of evaluating and verifying contributions
- Legal documentation that clearly marks the award as “Honorary”
- The technical platform used for convocation and recording
- Media support that helps publicize your achievement
- Support staff that handles global nominations and profiles
Think of it like the fees paid when receiving a Padma award medal’s duplicate or a passport service. It’s not for the honour itself — it’s for the mechanism that preserves and delivers that honour properly.
The Fear of Commercialisation Is Misplaced
Some people say, “If you have to pay, it loses value.”
But this idea misses one important truth — value lies in contribution, not in the delivery format. A doctor who served a village for 40 years without salary, a teacher who trained hundreds without charging, a social worker who ran night schools in slums — if they receive an honorary doctorate with a structured fee involved for processing, is the honour any less real?
The real issue is transparency, not payment. And when platforms like Cambridge Digital University or Euro Asian University clearly explain the process, cost, and ethical use of the title, there is no deception.
Free Recognition Isn’t Always Fair or Scalable
If recognition is given only to those who know the right people or can travel to the right events, then it becomes exclusive, not inclusive. Processing fees ensure that:
- Anyone from anywhere can apply or be nominated
- Equal time is given to evaluating each profile
- The system can grow without depending on donations or limited seats
This means more grassroots workers, rural achievers, and unsung heroes can be included — rather than just those with influence.
Let’s Not Shame People for Being Honoured
In India, we proudly display wedding cards, housewarming invitations, and job offers — all of which cost money to create and execute. So why do we hesitate to support a structured recognition ceremony, especially when it honours social work, cultural service, or life coaching?
If someone pays for a printed, verified, and archived honorary certificate with digital ceremony access, they’re not buying fame — they’re acknowledging their journey.
Let’s stop making people feel guilty for celebrating their own milestones.
It’s About Access and Dignity, Not Business
The goal is not to sell honours. The goal is to make honours:
- Reachable to common people
- Delivered with dignity and clear structure
- Celebrated with families and communities
- Useful in biographies, websites, visiting cards, and event profiles — with the “honorary” label respected
When the process is structured and open, fees ensure fairness — not exploitation.
Examples from Everyday Life
- A 62-year-old farmer-turned-inventor from Tamil Nadu gets honoured digitally and receives a framed certificate for ₹5000 total. Was that purchase or pride?
- A yoga teacher with 30 years of service pays a one-time fee for a citation and digital event. Did she buy the honour, or earn the recognition?
- A rural principal nominated by his students is recognised after verification. The ceremony is hosted online, and the whole school watches. Is that not worth some cost?
These are not exceptions. They are the new face of ethical, digital honorary recognition.
Conclusion
There is nothing wrong in paying for the process that supports and delivers a genuine honour. As long as the fee is disclosed, the recognition is honorary (not academic), and the recipient has truly contributed to society — this model enables, rather than diminishes, the spirit of celebration.
In a country where people spend thousands on birthday banners and lakhs on weddings, spending a modest amount to celebrate a lifetime of service is not commercialization — it’s respect.
So the next time someone says, “Honorary doctorates should be free,” ask them — is it really about money, or about meaning? Because meaning still matters — and honour, when earned, deserves a dignified delivery.