Cuttack: Hundreds of students of Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College staged a demonstration in Cuttack on Saturday demanding university status for the institution.
Protesting students blocked roads and resorted to slogan shouting to press their demand for grant of university status to one of Odisha’s oldest and most prestigious women’s colleges.
Classes were suspended as students gathered in front of the college gates, holding placards and chanting slogans. Traffic was disrupted in parts of Cuttack as the demonstrators blocked roads to draw the attention of the government.
The protest followed the state government’s recent announcement of plans to establish four new universities, a move that students said ignored Shailabala’s rightful claim to university status.
The protesters argued that Shailabala Women’s College, with its rich legacy and contri
bution to women’s education in Odisha, deserves to be elevated to a university. They accused the government of side-lining their institution despite repeated appeals over the years. The demand for university status has been a longstanding one, with alumni and current students insisting that recognition would not only honour the college’s heritage but also expand opportunities for higher education and research for women.
The agitation is part of a larger campaign that has included candlelight marches and petitions to the state government. Students and alumni have vowed to intensify their protests if their demands are not met. Their four-point charter also includes the return of prime land taken for public infrastructure projects, retention of the historic college building under the Higher Education Department and fulfilment of promises to improve campus facilities.
Founded in 1913, Shailabala Women’s College is named after Shailabala Das, a pioneering social reformer and educationist. It has long been a symbol of women’s education in Odisha, producing generations of graduates who have gone on to serve in diverse fields. Students say granting university status would be a fitting tribute to its legacy and ensure its continued relevance in modern higher education.