Jalandhar man may be next Cambridge chancellor

Abdul Arain, an Indian-origin from Jalandhar is among four individuals in the race to become the 108th chancellor of the University of Cambridge. If Arain is elected, he will take over charge from Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh; the chancellor from 1976 who is set to retire in June. Arain, 46, was born in Kenya but has roots in Jalandhar, where his father was born. He received "well in excess" of the required 50 nominations to ensure a place in the bid to become the 108th chancellor since Hugh de Hottun was elected in the 13th century. "I have received support from Indian academics and students at Cambridge, besides senior Senate members. I have support from both, the town and the gown," he said. The other three candidates are Lord Sainsbury, actor Brian Blessed and barrister Michael Mansfield. Voting for the constitutional head of the 802-year-old university will take place on October 14 and 15.