Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), September 01: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which once defended rulers like the Pandyas, who were mere imitations, has now gone a step further by defending a British officer, Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, under whose watch 2 million people in Odisha died during the famine of 1866. The BJD, which has been in opposition for a long time, has only tried to politicize irrelevant issues till now.
The statements made by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan yesterday have likely not been understood by BJD and Congress, or they lack the intellectual capacity to comprehend them. During the famine, while the people of Odisha were dying, Ravenshaw was busy smoking his hookah, as noted by the famous writer J.P. Das in his book “Desha Kaala Patra.” Ravenshaw himself admitted before the Campbell Commission that Odias were extremely lethargic and indifferent. Such a person should not be defended by BJD and Congress, stated state spokesperson Anil Biswal.
Mr. Biswal stated that the Union Minister’s question about whether an educational institution should be named after such a controversial British officer is valid and necessary for debate. In a healthy democracy, debate is required before making any decision. His statement makes it clear that the time has come to honor the true builders of Ravenshaw University. While the whole country is trying to free itself from the legacy of colonialism and foreign invaders, why are we not trying to free ourselves from this disease? Ravenshaw University is not just a prestigious institution of Odisha but of the entire country.
Many eminent personalities of Odisha made significant sacrifices during its formation and subsequent development. The Maharaja of Mayurbhanj donated Rs. 20,000 at the time. Even today, a marble slab near the Physics and Chemistry Laboratory in Ravenshaw University bears evidence of this. A reading room was established there for the Maharaja of Kanika. Many great scholars like Professor P.K. Parija, Professor Balabhadra Prasad, Professor G.B. Dhal, Professor Ramanath Mahanti, and Professor Harihar Mishra, after studying abroad, did not take up jobs outside but played a significant role in building this institution. The formation and subsequent progress of Ravenshaw was made possible only by and for the people of Odisha. Ravenshaw had very little role in this; he was only trying to clear his name from the accusations of the famine.
The BJD ruled for 24 years, but not an inch of land was named after Ravenshaw University, a fact that the government accepted during its tenure. The Naveen Patnaik government neglected this educational institution. BJD does not want Odias to take pride in their past. Earlier, BJD defended non-Odia officers, and now they are speaking in favor of a British officer responsible for mass deaths. BJD does not want to come out of the feudal and colonial mindset. Mr. Bishwal invited BJD to an open debate on this issue.
