Ravenshaw Name Change Row Rocks Odisha Assembly Amid BJP-Opposition Faceoff

Bhubaneswar: The issue relating to the suggestion for change of name of Ravenshaw University rocked the Odisha Assembly on Thursday with members of the ruling BJP and opposition BJD and Congress entering into heated exchange in the House.

Raising the issue in the House during zero hour, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Byomakesh Roy sought clarification of the government on the name change suggestion made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deputy Chief Minister and state Education Minister have also backed Pradhan’s suggestion, he said.

Describing Ravenshaw University as a 156-year-old milestone in the state’s education sector, the BJD legislator said T E Ravenshaw had taken over shortly before the great famine of 1866.

However, he put emphasis on promotion of Odia and teaching in this medium in schools instead of Bengali language, he said.

Claiming that the Union Minister’s statement has triggered students’ unrest in the state, Roy sought a statement on the issue by the Chief Minister in the House.

Speaking on the issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Tankadhar Tripathy claimed that the people of Odisha have accepted the suggestion made by the Union Minister and only those who functioned through remote are opposing it.

Seeking to know as to why any institution in the state should be named after a Britisher, he said there are many legendary leaders and great personalities who contributed immensely towards enriching the culture, language and life in Odisha.

Reacting sharply, BJD legislator Sharada Jena said the quality and standard of education cannot improve only through change of name of an institution.

Alleging that attempts are being made to create unrest in a peaceful city like Cuttack, the BJD legislator said Dharmendra Pradhan himself arranged financial assistance for Ravenshaw University from the CSR fund of an oil company during his tenure as Union Petroleum Minister.

However, the Union Minister should have taken steps to make Ravenshaw a central university.
If the Union Minister is so desperate for change of name, he can go ahead and set up a university named after Nathuram Godse, he said.

Hitting back at the BJD legislator, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya described the suggestion for establishment of a university in the name of Godse as unfortunate.

Claiming that Ravenshaw had condemned Odisha people as lazy and unenthusiastic, the BJP MLA pointed out that the Union Minister is not a member of the Assembly and the opposition members are diverting House proceedings by discussing him.

Taking a dig at BJP, Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said the saffron party has hurt the sentiments of the people of Cuttack by speaking in favour of change of name. She also demanded that the Chief Minister make a statement on the issue in the House.