Cuttack MP seeks univ name change

Cuttack: BJP’s Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab on Friday said the name of Ravenshaw University must be changed. “There is no point in the university remaining in the name of a Britisher even after a century of its establishment. It’s time for change,” he said. He said Ravenshaw College (now a university) grew after the completion of merger of princely states to form greater Orissa province in 1949. “Why should an institution be named after a Britisher when it was funded by the Odias. Its 77 years since India attained freedom. The name should be changed now,” Mahtab said. “The issue of renaming was discussed in 1949. There was a discussion in Odisha assembly when Pandit Lingaraj Mishra was the education minister,” he said. Mahtab said many students organised protests, and political leaders also backed them. BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray said, “MP Bhartuhari has studied in the historic Ravenshaw College. Instead of being proud of the century-old institution, he wants the name to be changed. It’s a shame”.“Where was his conscience when he was six times MP from BJD. Why didn’t he raise the issue in Parliament and is doing so now to make his party members happy,” said Debashish. “Isn’t this hypocrisy,” added Debashish. “T E Ravenshaw had promoted Odia language in the education system. He was the man who thought about women education even in that era and opened a dedicated girls school in Cuttack. His contribution is immense. Ravenshaw is not just a name but pride of Odisha and Cuttack,” added Debashish. Sudarshan Das, a member of Ravenshaw Heritage Forum and alumnus of Ravenshaw said, “Ravenshaw is a century-old brand and its an identity for students who have studied there. The Union minister has politicised the issue instead of thinking about the university’s development. He must grant funds for its overall development,” added Das.

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