Debate Over Renaming Ravenshaw University Sparks Protests

Opposition parties and students in Odisha raised concerns after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan suggested renaming Ravenshaw University, a prestigious institution named after British bureaucrat Thomas Edward Ravenshaw. Protests erupted, with demands for clarification from the state Chief Minister and varying opinions among political parties.

Opposition parties and students in Odisha have expressed strong objections following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's proposal to rename Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.

During a Zero Hour session, BJD member Byomakesh Roy and Congress legislator Sofia Firdous demanded that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi clarify the state’s stance on the issue.

The suggestion, which Pradhan stated was his personal idea, has ignited protests among students from the 156-year-old institution, leading to a debate on the legacy of British colonial figures in Indian educational entities.