State govt. proposes to rename universities after saints and social reformers

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Bengaluru, August 24, 2017 (The Hindu):  After naming the State’s only Women’s University in Vijayapura after Akkamahadevi, one of the early women poets of Kannada to defy confines of gender and a Lingyat icon, the State government now proposes to rename other universities after saints and social reformers. This is being viewed as Congress Government’s move to reach out to various caste groups ahead of the elections.

The Government has proposed to rename the Gulbarga University after Basaveshwara, 12th century social reformer and founder of Lingayat faith, while the Central University of Kalaburagi is to be named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution who fought for the upliftment of dalits.

The Central University of Bengaluru, which was one of three universities formed after division of Bengaluru University, would be named after Kempe Gowda, believed to be founder of Bengaluru. The Government has already named international airport of Bengaluru after Kempe Gowda

Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayaraddi on Thursday said that the department has proposed to rename universities after Basaveshwara, Valmini, Kempe Gowda, Kanadadasa, Babu Jagjeevan Ram and Saint Santa Shishunala Sharifa.

The State government has written to the Centre to rename the Central University of Kalaburagi after B.R. Ambedkar. However, there was no reply from the Human Resource Ministry so far, he said. Already, the Government has named a newly established economic school in Bengaluru after B.R. Amebdkar.

On the issue of providing reservation for Karnataka students in Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad and National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Mr. Rayaraddi said he had written to the Centre on the matter, but the latter had not responded to it so far.

Only six students from Karnataka had got seats in the IIT, Dharwad this year, he said.

Asked about 390 vacant posts of principals in the government first grade degree colleges, he said vacancies would be filled either through a special drive or through promotions. The 1,500 vacant lecturers posts in aided colleges would also be filled this year and the Finance Department has cleared the department’s proposal, he said.

A committee headed by former Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath has been constituted to develop infrastructure in government degree colleges. Nearly 80 colleges have been functioning from rented buildings. It was proposed to raise Rs 5000 crore either from the World Bank or NABARD for developing infrastructure in colleges, the Minister said.