By Muslim Mirror Staff
Protests erupted at the Hyderabad’s Osmania University to oppose the renaming of the University’s library to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar Library.
The library was initially called Osmania University library, named after the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It was established in 1918 along with the University and later moved to another building, which was inaugurated by the then President Dr Radhakrishnan in 1963.
Najaf Ali Khan, grandson and Mirza Mohib Baig, who is the great grandson of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, said history was being altered. Mirza Mohib Baig told TOI that he has decided to move court.
Amid protests and call to rescind the decision to rename the library, a research centre and a statue of Ambedkar were all inaugurated by Prof Sukhdeo Thorat, former UGC chairman, as part of the university’s centenary celebrations and 120th birth anniversary of Ambedkar on Friday.
Since the declaration of the name change, various alumni, historians, and members from the Nizam’s family have been writing to the Vice-chancellor of Osmania University, Chief Secretary S K Joshi, and Governor ESL Narasimhan to intervene and halt this move but to no avail.