By Raju Kumar
BHOPAL: The recent proposal to rename Bhopal’s Barkatullah University as Vagdevi Bhojpal University has triggered an intense debate across Madhya Pradesh. The proposal, approved by the University’s Executive Council, drew strong opposition not only in Bhopal but also in several other parts of the state. Teachers, students, historians, civil society organisations and political parties argued that changing the name would undermine the legacy of a distinguished freedom fighter and educationist.
Opposition to the proposal continued to gather momentum. Meanwhile, the University also became embroiled in other administrative controversies. The Vice-Chancellor later resigned. Responding to persistent questions over the renaming proposal, the Registrar stated that the initiative had been taken by the former Vice-Chancellor and that it was no longer being pursued after his resignation. He also said that the Higher Education Department had not supported the proposal. However, this was merely the Registrar’s statement. The Executive Council has neither formally withdrawn its resolution nor issued any public notification to that effect. Although the issue has now been pushed into cold storage and public protests have largely subsided, it would be premature to consider the controversy settled until the proposal is formally withdrawn.
The larger question is why such a proposal was considered necessary in the first place. Should one great historical figure be honoured by erasing the public identity of another? Those opposing the move argued that if the state wished to honour Raja Bhoj or Goddess Vagdevi through a university, it should establish a new institution instead. Renaming a university that has carried the name of a distinguished freedom fighter for decades does little justice to history.
Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali was not merely a prominent son of Bhopal; he was among the leading international faces of India’s freedom movement. Born on 7 July 1854, he was an eminent educationist, polyglot and revolutionary nationalist. He taught in several countries, including Japan, and worked tirelessly to build international support for India’s struggle against British colonial rule. During the First World War, he collaborated with Indian revolutionaries abroad to mobilise resistance against British rule. On 1 December 1915, he became the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of India established in exile in Kabul, with Raja Mahendra Pratap serving as its President. It was one of the earliest organised political efforts to secure India’s independence from foreign soil. Although he did not live to see an independent India, his contribution to the freedom movement remains an enduring part of the nation’s history.
In recognition of his contribution, Bhopal University was renamed Barkatullah University in 1988. The decision was not based on religious identity but on honouring a man who dedicated his entire life to India’s struggle for freedom. It is therefore natural that society should ask questions when an attempt is made to remove his name from the institution that has borne it for decades.
Throughout the controversy, another question repeatedly surfaced: was Barkatullah’s name being targeted simply because he was a Muslim? Neither the government nor the University has attributed the proposal to any such consideration. Yet the most effective way to dispel this perception would be to formally withdraw the renaming proposal. Otherwise, the controversy is likely to resurface from time to time.
A more fundamental question is whether the name of a university is really its greatest problem. Universities across Madhya Pradesh are grappling with declining enrolment, faculty vacancies, weak research output, examination-related issues, administrative disputes and the broader challenge of improving academic quality. Barkatullah University itself has frequently been in the news for many of these reasons. In such circumstances, improving the quality of higher education should take precedence over renaming institutions.
Raja Bhoj is widely regarded as one of India’s great rulers, scholars and patrons of culture. If the state government wishes to establish a new university, research institute or centre of excellence in his honour, it is free to do so. However, altering the historical identity of Barkatullah University for that purpose is neither necessary nor justified.
Universities are not merely degree-awarding institutions; they are also custodians of society’s historical memory. It is therefore not enough for the proposal to remain in cold storage. The Executive Council should formally withdraw it so that there is no scope for reviving the issue in the future. The state government should also make it clear that the legacy of India’s freedom fighters and educationists will not be compromised. The identity of Barkatullah University must remain intact. That would be a fitting tribute to the nation’s history, higher education and the legacy of its freedom struggle. (IPA Service)
