New Delhi: Opposing the renaming of the Dyal Singh College, a group of eminent scholars and academicians on Monday said that they will take up the issue with the Centre.
The meeting was chaired by journalist and diplomat Kuldeep Nayyar at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj. The college was recently renamed as Vande Mataram College, amid much criticism.
In the meeting Mr Nayyar took the responsibility to take up the issue with the government and all the stakeholders. Stating that the issue has been blown out of proportion, he said that he will deliberate on the issue with the concerned stakeholders. The future course of action will be decided at the next meeting, he added.
After discussion, it was unanimously resolved that under no circumstances should the name of Dyal Singh College be renamed. At the same time, the scholars also paid tributes to late S. Dyal Singh Majithia, a philanthropist who donated his wealth and properties for establishing educational institutions.
Deliberating upon the issue, the scholars felt that some forces were trying to give the issue a communal and religious colour. It was also decided that the college, which has been set up on an area spanning 12 acres of land, will be only be known as Dyal Singh College and its renaming will not be allowed and appealed that no row be created over this issue.
“We are against the change of name, but it doesn’t mean that we are anti-nationals. So please don’t manipulate the issue to patriotism or nationalism,” a scholar said.
“Dyal Singh College and Library still runs without any change in name in Lahore. So why has the institution’s name been changed in India,” he asked. Dividing the college on the issue of a name will destroy the institution itself,” he said.
