‘Intellectuals should think about it’: Dharmendra Pradhan suggests renaming 156-year-old Ravenshaw University, triggers debate

The institution was established just a couple of years after the Great Odisha Famine (Na Anka Durbhikshya) of 1866. Official data suggests that at least a million people died in Odisha during the famine.

Referring to this, Pradhan said: “It is my personal opinion that the name of the institution should be changed. The devastating Na Anka famine had taken place in Odisha during the tenure of Ravenshaw saheb (when he was commissioner of Odisha division). The intellectuals of Odisha should think about it. There is a need for a debate over the issue.”

Speaking to reporters after attending an event in Cuttack, Pradhan asked: “What were the administrators doing at the time (of the 1866 famine)? Is it a matter of pride for us to glorify the names of people who were responsible for causing miseries to the Odia people?”

However, some of the institution’s well-known alumni did not agree with the suggestion.

Former Odisha chief secretary Sahadeb Sahoo, an alumnus of the institute, said, “By establishing the institution, Ravenshaw saheb actually upheld Odia glory at a time when Odia language was struggling for its identity. Because of his effort in spreading higher education, people at that time honoured the British officer by naming the institution after him. Also, Ravenshaw saheb was not responsible for causing miseries to the Odia people.” Sahoo was a student of the institute from 1957 to 1960.

Another alumnus, educationist Satyakam Mishra, said those who know the contribution of Ravenshaw to Odisha would not favour renaming the institute. “If our students can read in Odia language today, it is because of the British officer,” Mishra said.

The issue has also triggered a debate among the students of the university.