The Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has demanded that the name of Assam University in Silchar be changed to “Silchar University.”
The demand comes in the wake of a recent cabinet decision announced by Himanta Biswa Sharma, Chief Minister of Assam, to rename Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College in Barpeta as “Barpeta Medical College.” The Chief Minister had stated that most medical colleges in the state are named after their respective locations, and that the Barpeta medical college was an exception. According to him, the earlier name had often led people to assume that the institution was privately run.
Referring to this reasoning, the BDF has argued that a similar approach should be adopted in the case of the central university located in Silchar.
In a video message, BDF convener Hrishikesh De said that two central universities were established in the state at around the same time—one in Tezpur and the other in Silchar. While the university in Tezpur was named Tezpur University, the one in Silchar was named Assam University.
He stated that as there has recently been a trend of renaming institutions, roads, and other public establishments in the state, the name of Assam University should also be changed to “Silchar University.” According to him, accepting the demand would demonstrate that the state cabinet is neutral and not biased toward any particular community.
Hrishikesh De further said that if the demand is not accepted, it may create an impression that the name of a distinguished political leader from Assam—who also served as the only President of India from the state—has been removed due to political considerations aimed at gaining electoral advantage in upcoming elections.
He also stated that, based on the same reasoning, the BDF is demanding that Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Guwahati be renamed “Panbazar Hospital.”
The statement was issued to the media on behalf of the BDF by convener Debayan Deb.
