After political row, Ravenshaw University authorities seek adequate police deployment on campus

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s famed Ravenshaw University has sought adequate police support apparently in view of the ongoing protests over the controversy surrounding the proposal for the change of the name of the 156-year-old educational institution.

In a letter to the Cuttack deputy commissioner of police (DCP), the Registrar of Ravenshaw University mentioned about the tense situation on the university campus and requested urgent police deployment to ensure the “safety” of students, staff, and families on campus.

“Ravenshaw University Campus is witnessing some protesting campaigns organised mostly by outsiders (non-students) from 01.09.2024. As a result, the University Campus is tense and the situation is getting aggravated gradually day by day,” a letter from the Registrar read.

He further added, “Please note that there are 3000 boarders (boys and girls) are staying in different hostels. The families of both teaching and non-teaching staff are also residing inside the campus. It is felt that this tense situation is becoming untenable and needs immediate action for bringing normalcy in the campus.”

“To restore academic peace and tranquility inside the Campus, deployment of police personnel is highly essential round the clock. So, it is requested to kindly take necessary steps to deploy adequate numbers of police personnel inside the University Campus as well as the entry points so as to maintain law and order situation in the campus of Ravenshaw University,” the Registrar wrote to the DCP.

The letter also requested the DCP to treat the matter as urgent.

Recently, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, had made a “personal submission” saying he felt that the name of Ravenshaw University needs to be changed.

The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also strongly backing Pradhan’s proposal saying the institute should be named after an eminent Odia.

Ravenshaw University has been named after Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a British national who served as the governor of Odisha from 1865 to 1878. He faces the allegation of failing to foresee the 1866 great famine, more known as Na-Anka Durbiksha, that officially claimed more than 10 lakh lives. The unofficial sources, however, claim that over 30 lakh people perished in the disaster.

The Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) state unit leaders have been strongly opposing the name change proposal. They have also threatened statewide agitation if the BJP continues to pursue the name change “agenda.”