Debated And Favoured Ravenshaw Name Change Many Times In Past: Bhartruhari Mahtab

Cuttack, Sept 13: Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab once again pitched for the change in the name of Ravenshaw University while corroborating his earlier claims with demands he had made many times since 1977.

"I did not make this demand for the first time. Name change has been demanded since 1977. I also wrote on this issue in 1980.

This demand has been placed many times during 77 years of Independence," said Mahatab.

Bruhatar (Larger) Odisha was formed in 1949. Mayurbhanj came to Odisha fold. After this, the name change of Ravenshaw was discussed many times in the Odisha Assembly. Raghunath Mishra was the Education Minister then. Students resorted to agitation over the name change proposal. Politicians supported them. Now, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has raised the issue and suggested all for a discussion.

He said it is up to the government to decide on the issue. I don't dispute anybody's statement on a personal level.

Mahtab stated this while speaking at a seminar titled "Role of Thomas Ravenshaw During Famine Nine.

"Why should the institution created with the grant of the Odisha people be named after an English man? Is there any institution in the name of Odia people outside Odisha? Then why are we showing so much love and support for outsiders? There will be no problem if we change the name of Revenshaw," argued Mahtab.

Among others, Haraprasad Das, Subrat Prushti, former Vice-Chancellor Harihar Kanungo, and Rajaram Satpathy kept their views in favor of the name change.