Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Calls for Ravenshaw University Name Change, Faces Backlash

Cuttack: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ignited controversy by suggesting the renaming of Odisha’s esteemed Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. While clarifying that this view is his personal opinion, Pradhan urged a broader discussion on the topic among academics, intellectuals and the public.

Speaking at an event in Cuttack on local self-governance day, Pradhan questioned the legacy of Thomas Edward (TE) Ravenshaw, after whom the university was named. He highlighted Ravenshaw’s role during the Great Orissa Famine of 1866, known locally as the ‘Na’anka Durbhikhya.’

“The name of Ravenshaw University should be reconsidered. We need to reflect on why the devastating 1866 famine occurred and what Ravenshaw, who was then the British Commissioner, did during that time. Can we take pride in naming an institution after someone associated with such a tragedy?” Pradhan remarked.

However, Pradhan’s comments have met with significant resistance. People argue that Ravenshaw College, now a university, is deeply rooted in Odisha’s history, and changing its name would erase its historical significance.

Former Odisha DGP AB Tripathy, who served as president of Ravenshaw University Development Trust from 1994 to 2015, dismissed Pradhan’s proposal as a political stunt. He pointed out that the 1866 famine resulted from the negligence of the Board of Revenue in Calcutta, with no direct connection to Ravenshaw College.

“The name Ravenshaw College wasn’t chosen by Ravenshaw himself but was proposed by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Bhanjadeo. The college was renamed in 1878 after TE Ravenshaw had left Odisha,” Tripathy stated. He added that just as the names of high courts remain unchanged, there is no reason to alter the university’s name.

This isn’t the first time the renaming issue has surfaced. A similar proposal was made in the 1960s but was opposed by academicians and alumni.

Established in 1868, Ravenshaw College is one of India’s oldest and most prestigious institutions. It gained autonomous status in the 1990s and became a unitary university on November 15, 2006. It is currently the only public university in Odisha with an NAAC A++ grade.