The Odisha Assembly on Thursday witnessed uproar over Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s suggestion to change the name of the iconic Ravenshaw University.

The issue has already triggered a statewide protest. In addition to political parties, former vice-chancellors, research scholars, bureaucrats and intellectuals have aired their opinions against it.

The institution was named after T.E. Ravenshaw, the then Commissioner of Cuttack Division in the 1870s. Now, Pradhan wants the institution to be named after a son of the soil. However, most seem to disagree with him as they think it would not only be a rejection of Ravenshaw’s contribution to Odisha in the field of education but also impact the glory and the university.

Raising the issue at the state Assembly Biju Janata Dal (BJD) sought a clarification from the government on the issue. “It’s not a mere institution but a pillar in the history of Odisha. The chief minister should make a statement on the House,” said BJD MLA Byomakesha Ray. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous also demanded the chief minister’s statement on the issue.

BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy said: “Why any institution in the state be named after a Britisher.”

So far the Odisha government has also distanced itself from the issue following a huge hue and cry over it. An organisation with the slogan “Save Ravenshaw Legacy” has also been floated. The organisation held a torch rally on Wednesday evening at Cuttack against the move.

Convenor of “Save Ravenshaw Legacy,” Sudarshan Das told The Telegraph, “All should refrain from distorting history. Questions have been raised about the contribution of the son of soils whom we worship. It pains me. Politics should be stopped in the name of Odia pride (Odia Asmita).”

Former vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University Prakash Chandra Sarangi told this newspaper: “What is the necessity of changing the name of this reputed institution? We will lose the brand that we have created over the years. We must know the institution’s glorious history.”

Sarangi said: “It was only after T.E. Ravenshaw departed from Odisha that the people named the institution after him. Ravenshaw was not responsible for causing misery to the Odia people. He had realised that only through education we could change Odisha.”

Former IAS officer Nikunja Kishore Sundaray on his social media wrote, “Ravenshaw Days, they never fade. Those who couldn’t get in are attempting to malign our alma mater like they did to JNU. I say, desist!”

Pradhan had said: “There is a need for a name change. What did Ravenshaw, after whom the university is named, do during the Na’ank Durbhikya famine? Many Odias were killed. Ravenshaw was the commissioner during that time. Why should a prestigious university of Odisha be named after a British commissioner?” The Na’ank Durbhikya famine (1866) had taken place in Odisha.

The institution was founded in 1868 with intermediate-level classes at the Cuttack Zilla (district) school. The high school was elevated to college in 1876. It became widely known as Cuttack College.

The Cuttack Zilla School was renamed Ravenshaw College in 1878. Ravenshaw College was upgraded to University level in 2006.

PhD Scholar (History department) of Delhi University Lokesh Durga, said: “There are so many colleges affiliated to Delhi University with British names, like Jesus and Mary College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Lady Irwin College, and St. Stephen’s College. Let the Union minister change the name of these colleges.”