DU's Renaming Proposal for Dyal Singh Evening College Sparks Controversy
Delhi University faces mounting opposition over its plan to rename Dyal Singh Evening College. The university wants to honor Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur by giving the college his name. This proposal has triggered strong reactions from the college's staff association.
The Announcement That Started the Dispute
Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh first announced the renaming idea publicly last December. He spoke about Banda Singh Bahadur's historical legacy during a speech on Vir Bal Diwas. "We wish to name Dyal Singh Evening College after Banda Singh Bahadur," Singh declared on December 26th. Faculty members say they learned about the proposal only through this public announcement.
Staff Association Takes Formal Stand
The college staff association held an emergency meeting on January 8th. Members adopted a unanimous resolution opposing the name change. They criticized the administration for moving forward without consulting stakeholders. The resolution specifically mentions that teaching staff, non-teaching staff, and students were not consulted.
The staff association made three clear demands:
- Withdraw the proposal sent by the Governing Body on December 5th
- Convene an emergency meeting of the Staff Council
- Make all legal documents including land and transfer agreements publicly available
Legal Concerns Take Center Stage
At the heart of the dispute lies a specific legal clause. Clause 12 of the 1978 transfer deed clearly states that the college "will continue to be known as Dyal Singh College" after its takeover by Delhi University. Staff members warn that violating this clause could have serious consequences.
The staff association letter to university authorities outlines potential risks. Any name change might lead to withdrawal of land rights. This could force the college to relocate from its current premises. The letter emphasizes that stakeholders "strongly oppose any such move."
Historical Context and Previous Attempts
This is not the first time renaming attempts have faced resistance. Back in 2017, when the evening college became a day college, another proposal emerged. The Governing Body wanted to rename it 'Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya'. That proposal also met opposition and was eventually dropped.
Interestingly, two names were reportedly discussed during the December 5th meeting. Besides Banda Singh Bahadur, some suggested 'Majithia College' after Dyal Singh's last name. Dyal Singh Majithia was a 19th-century philanthropist who founded The Tribune newspaper and served as Punjab National Bank's first chairman.
University's Perspective and Precedents
Registrar Vikas Gupta provided some context about the university's thinking. He mentioned that both Dyal Singh Morning and Evening colleges will continue operating from the same building. Gupta pointed to previous successful renaming examples at Delhi University.
"It was done earlier with regard to Deshbandhu and Ram Lal Anand colleges," Gupta noted. "We shouldn't have two colleges with the same name running as Day Colleges." He confirmed that the matter will be placed before the Executive Council for consideration.
Looking Ahead
The controversy continues to develop as stakeholders await the Executive Council's decision. The staff association has clearly invoked the 2017 precedent where a similar renaming proposal failed. They emphasize the importance of following proper consultation processes and respecting legal agreements.
Both Principal Bhawna Pandey and Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh have not responded to requests for comment. The college community now watches closely to see how Delhi University will address these concerns while considering the renaming proposal.
