September 6th 2024.
In the city of Bhubaneswar, there was a heated discussion in the Assembly on Thursday. The opposition parties, BJD and Congress, were questioning the suggestion made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to change the name of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. They wanted clarification from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi on the matter. This issue has sparked protests among the students of the prestigious 156-year-old institution, which is named after British bureaucrat Thomas Edward Ravenshaw. Pradhan, who visited Cuttack on August 31, had shared his personal idea of changing the university's name, which led to these protests.
During the Zero Hour, BJD member Byomakesh Roy raised the issue, which was supported by his party colleagues and Congress legislators. However, BJP MLAs defended Pradhan's proposal. Roy highlighted the importance of Ravenshaw University in the state's education sector and the role played by TE Ravenshaw during the great famine of 1866. He also mentioned how TE Ravenshaw had emphasized the use of Odia language in schools instead of Bengali. Roy expressed concern that the Union minister's statement had caused unrest among the students and requested a statement from the chief minister on the matter.
Congress lawmaker Sofia Firdous also questioned the BJP's stance on this issue and accused them of hurting the sentiments of the people of Cuttack. She demanded a statement from the chief minister in the Assembly. On the other hand, BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy claimed that the people of Odisha have accepted the suggestion made by Pradhan and only those who are operating from a distance are opposing it. He questioned the relevance of keeping a British name for a university in a state that has many legendary leaders and personalities who have contributed greatly to its culture and language. Tripathy also highlighted the fact that Pradhan, as the Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, had arranged financial assistance for Ravenshaw University during his tenure.
BJD's Sharada Jena expressed his belief that changing the name of an institution will not improve the quality and standard of education. He also alleged that attempts were being made to create unrest in a peaceful city like Cuttack. Jena suggested that instead of changing the name, Pradhan should take steps to make Ravenshaw a central university. He also made a sarcastic remark about Pradhan, saying that as the country's education minister, he is free to establish a university in the name of Nathuram Godse. In response, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya condemned the idea of establishing a university in Godse's name and claimed that TE Ravenshaw had insulted the Odia people by calling them lazy and unenthusiastic. However, he also mentioned that since Pradhan is not a member of the Assembly, there is no need to discuss this issue by taking his name.
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