Uddhav Thackeray recommends renaming Shivaji University to 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University', writes to governor

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday wrote to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari requesting him to initiate the legal process of renaming Shivaji University in Kolhapur to 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University, Kolhapur'. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) detailed that the state government intended the usage of the full name of the Maratha warrior-king, complete with his honourary title, while referring to any institution named after him.

The statement by Uddhav Thackeray also elaborated that not just Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but also other icons and religious entities are to be honoured now by ensuring that their entire names are mentioned in schemes and initiatives taken by the state government. "Instead of Jyotiba Phule, it will be mandatory to address the social reformer as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Sambhaji as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj," the statement by Uddhav Thackeray detailed, adding that the necessary directives have already been issued.

The Shivaji University, named after the founder of the Maratha Empire, was established in 1962 in Kolhapur and is one of the premier institutes in Maharashtra.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, on account of the office he holds, is the chancellor of all public universities in Maharashtra, therefore the Chief Minister has requested him to initiate the legal process for the name change.