MHRD sets ball rolling for Allahabad University name change

PRAYAGRAJ: The proposal to change the name of University of Allahabad has gathered pace with the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) telling the university administration to seek opinion of all members of its Executive Council (EC) through e-mail and convey it immediately.
Following the instructions, AU registrar Prof N K Shukla has sent e-mails to all members of AU’s EC, requesting them to express their opinion on the changing the name of AU into University of Prayagraj so that it can be communicated to MHRD.
The fresh communiqué from MHRD is in continuance with the earlier two letters on the issue, including one dated February 10, 2020 of MHRD secretary Raju Saraswat. In an earlier letter dated December 4, 2018, then chief secretary, Uttar Pradesh government, had requested for AU’s name change.
MHRD has also mentioned a letter of former commissioner, Allahabad division, Ashish Goyal dated November 27, 2019 wherein he had requested to change the name of university.
The name of Allahabad district was changed to Prayagraj by a notification dated October 18, 2018 of state government. Subsequently names of the city and division were changed to Prayagraj, followed by change in the name of railway stations as well.
As per regulations, the proposal to change the name of Allahabad University has to be passed by the EC and sent to MHRD following which it could be tabled in the Parliament since it is a Central university. After being passed by the Parliament, the proposal would be sent to the President for approval after which necessary changes can be made in the university’s act, statues and ordinances.
However, dissenting voices started emanating from student leaders and former or present teachers of AU.
Talking to TOI, a senior member of the executive council said, “At a time when we are fighting a global pandemic, exams are still pending, admissions have to be done, we are being asked to express opinion whether we support changing the name of AU. Even if everything had been normal, then too none of us would have agreed to change the name. We are identified by the name ‘University of Allahabad’ and that should remain intact.”
“AU has a rich legacy of 133 years. The institution is popular and known world over by this name. Names of many cities have been changed but the names of eminent institutions remained unchanged,” said former faculty member Prof. M C Chattopadhyay.
Many students and teachers started a signature campaign against the proposal. The online petition has been signed by over 4,500 students in just 24 hours of its launch.
Opposing the move, former vice-president of AU students’ union, Akhilesh Yadav said, “AU is not just a name but a global brand having a legacy of 133 years, changing its name would be like taking away the identity of lakhs of students. If the government is really concerned aboutAU, it should do something to improve its ranking and facilities of students