University of Delhi's Dyal Singh evening college's governing body passed a resolution renaming the institution as Vande Mataram College on Saturday, after making it a regular shift college.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister for Food Processing, has criticised the move, calling it “unacceptable and shocking”. To her, the renaming of the college, which was named after the famous 19th century philanthropist and educator Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, is like taking away his legacy.
How can you take away the legacy of someone else? The person who is so keen to change the name, must change his own name. He can put all his wealth to create something and give it whatever name he wants.Harsimrat Kaur Badal, as reported by ANI
Even in Pakistan, they’ve recognized the contribution of Sardar Deen Dayal Singh Majithia and colleges are being run on his name.Harsimrat Kaur Badal tells ANI
Other politicians have opposed this move as well.
According to Times of India, Sukhbir Singh Badal, the President of Shiromani Akali Dal, has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the matter.
The move is not only mischievous because it seeks to create quite an unnecessary controversy around the sacred expression of Vande Mataram, but carries the potential to blow up into a major controversy and conflict in the country.Sukhbir Singh Badal, in his letter to Narendra Modi, as reported by Times of India
Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, opposed the move as well and took to Twitter to express his disagreement.
The college had earlier decided to turn Dyal Singh evening into a regular shift college earlier this year.
Students and teachers have shown dissatisfaction towards the proposal as the new regular shift college would be functioning in the same campus, hence, dividing resources and creating infrastructural barriers.
“The General Body passed the decision on making the evening shift as regular college. It has been renamed as Vande Mataram College. This step will help all the students in the evening shift,” Amitabh Singh, chairman of the general body told Hindustan Times.
However, some of the teachers and students are unhappy with the decision.
The only agenda that was discussed was the name proposed for the new college, which was Vande Mataram. I opposed this, as we first needed to decide where the college would function before we start naming it.Viraj Kafle, teacher representative, governing body, Dyal Singh
Ignoring the opposition, the chairman said only a few people are against the move.
We have already built 28 extra rooms, even though we only needed 22 for running the classes as of now. We are also constructing new floors in the building so there is no question of lack of infrastructure.Chairman, Dyal Singh governing body, talking to HT
Teachers of Dyal Singh protested against the decision to make it a regular day shift college without setting up a proper campus. Some teachers and students had even tried to interrupt the governing body meeting that day, the Hindustan Times reported.
A group of teachers have been opposing the move, saying that there is not enough space in the campus to accommodate evening college students within the day shift.
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The college principal also addressed the issue:
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