Haryana Education Minister raised controversy by demanding renaming of Kurukshetra University

Haryana Education Minister raised controversy by demanding renaming of Kurukshetra University

Kurukshetra, December 18 --- Haryana education Minister, Rambilas Sharma on Friday raised a controversy at the international seminar on ‘Bhagwadgita ki Sarvbhom Prasangata’ at the shribhagwadgita sadan-University auditorium- on Kurukshetra university campus here, by proposing that the name of Kurukshetra University be changed on the name of Shribhagwadgita.

Everyone in the audience was taken aback, when Sharma rushed towards the mike, after the Haryana Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki, started moving towards the mike to give his presidential speech. While the Governor kept on waiting for over a minute on the left side of the Minister, Sharma said that ‘hum sab yaha majod logo ka vichar hai ke University ka name badal kar bhagwadgita par rakh dia jave’ (all present here desire that the name of the University be changed to Bhagwadgita).

Though the Governor did not mentioned the demand made by the Education Minister in his address but it left many in the audience especially University teachers and prominent citizen cribbing over the proposal.

After the completion of the seminar, the education minister was confronted by some senior university teachers including President Kurukshetra University Teacher’s Association (KUTA), Dr. Pramesh Kumar, and prominent citizens including eminent social activist Vijay Sabharwal. They pointed out to the Minister that Kurukshetra itself is a name to revere as first ‘shaloka’ of Bhagwadgita started with ‘Dharamkashetra-Kurukshtera’, and the 58 years old university is famous all-over the world by its own name. Dr. Pramesh said that if at all the name is to be changed it should be named as ‘central university’ as being demanded by KUTA, and nothing elese.

Minister remained mum. However, when the mediapersons and electronic media confronted Sharma about his proposal, he saved his skin by saying that it was the proposal of the ‘sant samaj’ which he forwarded to the Governor.

When confronted by the media over the issue stating that the renaming of the University was strongly objected by the public on two occasions earlier, the Governor said that Minister has made a proposal, we would consider.

It may be recalled that the name of Kurukshetra University, which is the oldest university of Haryana established in 1958, was renamed by Bansi Lal, in 1977, during emergency, on the name of former Haryana Governor, B.N. Chakravarty. However, it was reverted back after a year when a senior History Professor of the University Prof. V.N. Duta, met the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and brought to her notice the resentment of the public here over the renaming of University on the name of an individual against historic name of Kurukshetra.

Later, the then Haryana Chief Minister O.P. Chautala again announced in 2001 announced to rename it as ‘Guru Gobind Singh’ University. However, the proposal was later dropped following strong protests made by the public here.       

Besides Haryana Governor and Education Minister, other prominent who were present on the dais were BJP General Secretary, Anil Jain, RSS ‘Sarkaryawah’ Suresh Joshi ‘Bhaya ji’, RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Subhash Sudha, BJP MLA Thanesar, Pawan Saini, BJP MLA, Ladwa, Swami Gyana Nand, President, Shrikrishana Kripa Samiti, Swami Som Giri, from Bikanar, Mohamad Hanif Khan Shastri from Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Delhi, Acharya Vivek Muni, from Jain sect, and Satpal Singh Maharaj from USA.

Photo- Haryana Governor lighting lamp to inaugurate the seminar. RSS leader Indresh Kumar is seen on his right while ‘Bhaiya ji’ is on his left