Bollywood actor and influencer Riva Arora known for her roles in films like 'Bharat', ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’ and 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' as a child artist recently received a Doctor of Philosophy in Digital Influence & Women's Empowerment at the age of 19. She shared the news on social media and that led to conversations and mixed reactions about earning her Doctor of Philosophy at this young an age.
Riva shares news of her Doctor of Philosophy
Riva posted several pictures of herself on Instagram, in which we see her in a red convocation cap and gown. She is also seen posing with her degree despite having an injured leg. She captioned her post, "It’s Dr. (H) Riva Arora now!!! Reaching this milestone is a dream come true, and I couldn’t be more proud of what I’ve achieved. Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Digital Influence & Women’s Empowerment—‘In Recognition of Exceptional Leadership in Digital Media, Inspiring Millions, and Pioneering Women’s Empowerment at a Remarkably Young Age.’"
"I’m incredibly grateful for @keshvanandag and @sachingupta1208, who supported me along the way. Here’s to new adventures, continued learning, and embracing all the possibilities that lie ahead!” Riva added.
Riva has a massive fan following on social media. Her Instagram followers list in in millions. The current account of Riva shows some 11.5 million followers including the likes of Nayanthara, Karisma Kapoor, Suhana Khan and even Rajinikanth.
How the internet reacted to Riva's post?
While many fans were supremely happy with Riva's feat, many questioned the honorary degree. A user wrote, "Seriously? They’re giving PhD degrees at this age? Because of followers, they’ve turned PhDs into a joke." Another comment read, "How did you get this degree… any logic?" While a netizen also pointed out the age factor and commented, "Age – 18 years, Degree – PhD. Nice joke."
"This is great! Got a degree without studying!" Another user wrote.
"Everything chukti mein for these influencers," (Paisa lo degree do) is se koi is field ka question puchna chalu karo toh ek answer nhi aana hai is ko (Degrees being sold for money. Ask her something about this field and she won't know a single thing)," such comments could be found on Riva's feed.
What is a Doctor of Philosophy?
Honoris Causa or a Doctor of Philosophy is an honorary doctorate awarded to individuals who have made some contributions to their field of study without fulfilling the formal academic requirement of a PhD. In Riva's case, she was recognised for her contributions to digital media and women's empowerment.