Univ defers proposal to add 'Manohar Joshi' to Phule college name

The University of Mumbai (MU) has deferred a proposal to change the name of Mahatma Phule Education Society’s College of Arts, Commerce and Science.

The college wants to change its name to Mahatma Phule Education Society’s Manohar Joshi College of Arts, Commerce and Science. The proposal is being seen as sensitive.
The university management council, the body authorised to change the names of colleges, has received ten proposals. Considering the slew of proposals, the varsity has decided to seek detailed reports from the managements of the colleges concerned.

The Mahatma Phule Education Society had sent its proposal for the first time in 2009. Members of the university management council had opposed it vehemently and sent it back. “The college has sent the proposal once again, and it was discussed in the April 27 meeting,” said a source.

“The name-change proposal came up in the management council’s meeting, but we deferred it. We have sought a detailed report from the college about why it wants to change the name,” said Dr Rajpal Hande, director, Board of College and University Development.

“Some of the council members unnecessarily created a ruckus the last time we submitted our proposal,” said Baburao Mane, president of the Mahatma Phule Education Society and a former Sena MLA. “I am aware of Mahatma Phule’s contribution to society. We have no intention of dropping his name; we merely want to insert Manohar Joshi’s name. Some people are politicising the issue.”