‘Drop Rajiv’s name from tiger reserve, Sanskrit university’

MYSURU: Days after the central government renamed Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand, demands to change the name of a prominent tiger reserve and a Sanskrit institute — both named after the former PM — are pouring in.
The latest demands are to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Nagarahole, and Shri Rajiv Gandhi Campus of Central Sanskrit University in Sringeri of Chikkamagaluru district. An online petition has been launched on change.org to rename the national park spread over Kodagu district after Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian army and a Field Marshal.
The petition, launched by Naveen Madappa and Vinay Kayapanda, is addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office, Karnataka chief minister and Mysuru MP Pratap Simha.
When contacted, the MP said the demand is valid. “I will write a letter to the CM and to the central government in this regard,” he said, adding: “What is the connection between Nagarahole and Rajiv Gandhi? Just to appease the Gandhi family, Congress leaders from the state have named it after Rajiv.” Wing Commander B S Sudarshan, a retired Indian Air Force officer and a Kannada writer, who too has launched a drive to change the names, said naming all institutions and projects after the Nehru-Gandhi families are historical mistakes. “If the projects are part of Amethi or Raebareli parliamentary constituencies, there would have been no objection to their naming after the former PM. Why are places here are named after Rajiv?”
“The Sanskrit college should be renamed after Adi Shankaracharya, the Indian philosopher who propounded the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. We should name places and institutions after achievers who have had brought name and fame to particular fields. The names should inspire people and society. Sringeri is connected to Adi Shankaracharya,” he said.
When contacted, BJP national secretary C T Ravi endorsed the petitioners’ sentiments. “There is a need for public debate. If a pilot training school is named after Rajiv Gandhi, no one will raise objection. Why should a Sanskrit college be named after him?” he asked.
However, Congress leaders said BJP leaders have indulged in name-changing politics to divert public attention from real issues.