India News | Some People Trying to Distort History: Patnaik on Proposal of Varsity Name Change
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Former Odisha chief minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said that some people were trying to "distort" history, referring to the controversy surrounding a proposal to change the name of the 156-year-old Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 10 (PTI) Former Odisha chief minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said that some people were trying to "distort" history, referring to the controversy surrounding a proposal to change the name of the 156-year-old Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.
The idea of the name change was mooted by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Both the BJP and BJD have exchanged words in the assembly over the proposal.
“Is it Odia ‘asmita' (pride)? It is the moral duty of the nation to respect and be grateful to the great men. Institutions of excellence are built by the sacrifice, dedication and vision of great men. They are the indelible achievements of the nation,” Patnaik said on X.
BJP legislators have openly supported Pradhan's idea, arguing in favour of the name change of Raveshaw University, as it “carries a colonial name”.
Referring to a recent statement by a BJP MP, which was critical of Fakirmohan Senapati and the Mayurbhanj king, Patnaik said: “Vyaskabi Fakirmohan Senapati has made a unique contribution to the development of Odia language and literature.
“Everyone knows the contribution of the Mayurbhanj royal family in the overall development of Odisha. Their contribution in the fields of literature, education, health and culture is limitless. Some people are trying to distort history.”
Some leaders out of “euphoria of temporary success” have started writing “a new history today”, he said.
“They should remember that they may lose their identity if they try to tarnish the tall personality of sons of this soil,” Patnaik asserted.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)