Bhopal university renamed, drops freedom fighter Mohamed Barakatullah Bhopali’s name

The Barkatullah University in Bhopal will be renamed as the Vagdevi Bhojpal University, the Navbharat Times reported on Thursday.

The long-standing proposal was accepted by the institute’s executive council and the decision will need to be approved by the governor, who is the university’s chancellor.

In 1988, the university was named after Mohamed Barakatullah Bhopali in 1988, a freedom fighter from the city. Born in 1854, Bhopali served as the prime minister in India’s first provisional government-in-exile established in Afghanistan between 1915 and 1919.

The new name is aimed at reflecting the historical and cultural heritage of Bhopal, NDTV quoted the accepted proposal as having stated. The term “Vagdevi” symbolises Hindu deity of knowledge Saraswati and “Bhojpal” is a reference to King Bhoj.

The proposal accepted by the university’s executive council said that as compared to King Bhoj, “no significant contribution” to the region made by Bhopali was evident other than him having been a resident of the city, NDTV reported.

Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.
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