Faculty crunch, poor infra prime woes than renaming: BU students

Bhopal:

Barkatullah University students, alumni and faculty have criticised a state proposal to rename the institution “Vagdevi University,” arguing the move is premature and diverts attention and resources from more urgent academic problems.

Students said the administration should prioritise long-standing shortages of permanent faculty and essential teaching equipment before considering a change of name. They said several departments depend largely on guest lecturers and lack adequate laboratory instruments, library resources and research supplies.

“The real issue is academic quality, not the university’s name,” said a postgraduate student without quoting his name. “Renaming will not hire lecturers or repair labs.”

The renaming proposal, which originated at the executive council, has raised questions about the cost, the implementation timeline and the likely disruption to university operations.

Students and alumni said they plan to present a consolidated demand list to university authorities and the state government. The list calls for clear, time-bound assurances that staffing vacancies will be filled and that laboratories, libraries and research facilities will receive the necessary upgrades before any renaming process goes forward, said students.

Faculty said name changes for public institutions are sometimes pursued for political or symbolic reasons, but cautioned that the timing matters when resources are constrained. “Renaming exercises can produce short-term visibility, but if the underlying academic deficits remain unaddressed, they do little to improve student outcomes,” said a teaching faculty without quoting his name.

NSUI warned that the publicity and ceremonial expenses tied to a rename could divert scarce funds away from pressing academic priorities. They warned that they will escalate protests if their demands are not addressed.

“Rather than improving academics and infrastructure, the university chose to propose a name change, a move that will be opposed on every available platform,” said NSUI state vice president Ravi Parmar. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) organized a “Sadbuddhi Yagna” (prayer for wisdom) today to oppose the university administration’s proposed name change. Dozens of students and party workers gathered on campus to perform the ritual, appealing for “wisdom” and urging authorities to revoke the decision.

Alumni groups have also voiced concern, saying that a rename without improvements to teaching quality and infrastructure would amount to cosmetic change.

The university has not issued an official statement responding to the protests. Meanwhile, the university awaits a schedule for the planned stakeholder consultations and the administration’s response to the demand.