He took several steps for the progress of primary, secondary, technical and female education these included improvement of elementary village schools and the establishment of a medical school in Cuttack.
Sheer lunacy full#
However, in these latter years, Ravenshaw seems to have blossomed to his full potential and made a significant contribution for the development of education facilities in Odisha. Such happenings are not unusual in government administration, even today. The fact that Ravenshaw stayed on as the (full-fledged) commissioner for the next 10 years means that his bosses had full faith in his abilities. In fact, the Campbell Commission (on the famine) said as much.
It is possible that he initially misjudged the developing tragedy due to inexperience and a lack of familiarity with the ground situation. In fact, Ravenshaw had joined as officiating commissioner only in 1865, a year before the famine. The absence of suitable means of transportation and communication, premature cessation of rainfall and lack of irrigation facilities were the main causes, along with some administrative deficiencies. No one has yet accused Ravenshaw of "organising" the famine of 1866! Famines and scarcities were regular features in the 19th century Odisha there had been nearly 10 famines before 1866 and an equal number between 18. The latter directly organised troops and commanded them to open fire at Jallianwala Bagh. Take, for example, the comparison of Ravenshaw with General Dyer. However, it may clear the air somewhat if we also touch upon some arguments for change, though most seem irrelevant. It would be sheer lunacy to abandon this legacy and heritage.įrom this viewpoint, what Ravenshaw did or did not do is immaterial. Educational institutions attain excellence over time by traditions built in academic and relevant non-academic areas, and the name associated with it works as its flag-bearer. The college was closely associated with the various phases of the freedom movement and provided the venue for the initial meetings of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha in the 1930s.
Many of them have also made their mark nationally and internationally. The college has nurtured great scholars and teachers and has produced, over the years, distinguished intellectuals, literary figures, political leaders, administrators, lawyers and scientists who have shaped the destiny of Odisha. To that extent, the name is nationality-and-race-neutral, neither foreign, nor local. Through its association with a premier college that has played a stellar role in Odisha's intellectual and political history for decades, the word has acquired a new salience and now represents an iconic 'brand image' compared to, say Oxford or Cambridge in the UK, though in the limited Indian context. The word "Ravenshaw" is no longer perceived in public mind, both in Odisha and outside, as the appellation attached to the body of a white man who happened to be an administrator in Odisha more than a century ago. The suggestion to change the name of the Ravenshaw University (earlier known as Ravenshaw College), which was published in The Telegraph on March 27, 2017, is ill-conceived and appears to be an outcome of distorted priorities.
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