Drop Muslim and Hindu words from Banaras and Aligarh universities: UGC panel

A panel member says centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character.

Words such as ‘Hindu’ and ‘Muslim’ in names of universities--Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University--do not reflect their secular character and should be dropped, a UGC panel has recommended.

Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. A UGC panel says the universities can be simply called Banaras University and Aligarh University or be renamed after their founders. (PTI File Photo)

The panel was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character, a panel member said on the condition of anonymity.

The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel member added.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel include: Pondicherry University, Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.