Bhopal: A huge row has erupted over Indore’s historic Daly College, established during the British period, hosting the recent meeting of the national executive committee of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), with the Congress terming it a violation of the 150-year-old tradition of the famed educational institution.
Former minister and senior Congress leader Priyabrat Singh, who is one of the members of the governing body of the college, has raised questions over the institution permitting an outfit such as RSS, propagating a particular ideology, to hold it national executive body meeting in its campus, saying that by hosting the event, the historical college has compromised its ‘unique identity’ of promoting a healthy academic environment.
In an email to the college authority, the Congress leader expressed grave concern over the college compromising its policies by not only hosting the RSS event but also reportedly taking a decision to install the statue of Swami Vivekanand in its campus.
The college, opened by the then Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, in 1885 in Indore, has a bust of Sir Henry Dale, father of the local agent of the British government, Sir Hugh Daly, installed at its Central Hall.
The statue has been the identity of the college.
“The move to install the statue of Swami Vivekanand in the college will seriously affect the identity of the college, maintained for the past 150 years. This apart, the college has compromised its century-old tradition by hosting the event of the RSS, which is propagating a particular ideology”, Mr. Singh said.
He sought a clear-cut policy by the college on hosting events of the political entities.
Indore Municipal Mayor and senior BJP leader Pushyamitra Bhargav, however defended the college for allowing the RSS to hold its national meet.
The college was initially meant for the children of the chiefs of Central India to study.
The erstwhile ruling dynasties of Central India, Holkar and Scindia, later contributed to the development of infrastructure of the college.
Post-independence period, the college changed its policy on admission of students by enrolling students purely on merit basis irrespective of caste, and creed.
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