Osmania University library renamed amid student protest

HYDERABAD: Amid protest by the Nizam’s family and student groups over naming of an old library at the Osmania University, authorities went ahead with the ceremony on Friday and also inaugurated a new Dr BR Ambedkar Research Centre.
Calling for need to step up research on crucial socio-political and economic issues, Sukhdeo Thorat, former chairman of the University Grants Commission, in his inauguration speech said the research centre should focus on issues such as political freedom, making of the constitution and legal safeguards against discrimination.
“It is time to take forward the ideas of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar which were far ahead of his times. He foresaw solutions to complex problems and there is a need to seek long-term solutions for contemporary issues,” said Prof Thorat. He said the Centre should encourage multi-disciplinary research and include diverse subjects such as history, philosophy and economics.
Before the inauguration, Thorat renamed the university library as Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar library despite opposition from the Nizam’s family. The Nizam’s kin had urged authorities to withdraw their plans of changing the name of the library and had also petitioned Governor ESL Narasimhan.
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.