University to retain Telugu name

Introduction of Bill to anglicise name in Assembly deferred

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SPMVV Vice-Chancellor favoured change

Argument was that non-Telugu speakers could understand it better

Said it would ensure hassle-free acceptance of university certificates

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HYDERABAD: The Official Languages Commission has won the battle against the move to anglicise the name of the Tirupati-based Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV).

It has prevailed upon the Government to defer introduction of a Bill in the Assembly to change the name to Sri Padmavathi Women's University as proposed by its Vice-Chancellor, Veena Noble Dass. Ms. Noble favoured the renaming to facilitate better understanding by non-Telugu people, especially foreigners, and to facilitate hassle-free acceptance of the university's certificates.

The varsity argued that the absence of the word `university' in SPMVV was doing it more harm than good in the international arena, as it was being taken for a small institute.

Accordingly, the Government had drafted a Bill for introduction in the Assembly by the Minister for Higher Education, P. Koteswara Rao. The Telugu Bhasha Vikaasa Udhyamaman of Chittoor district launched an agitation against what it described as the `insult' meted out to the Telugu language. The Commission Chairman, A.B.K. Prasad, lodged an objection against the change. Ms. Noble on Monday informed Mr. Prasad that the draft Bill had been scrapped respecting the sentiments expressed by the student community and the commission. However, the English name of the university -- Sri Padmavathi Women's University -- will be used in brackets below the Telugu name.

Courtesy: The Hindu