The Karnataka cabinet’s proposal to rename Bengaluru City University as Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University has triggered intense reactions online, with many questioning the decision’s timing, relevance, and cultural implications.
Announced on Wednesday, the move aims to honour the former Prime Minister for his role in India’s economic liberalisation and his indirect contributions to Bengaluru’s rise as a global innovation and tech hub. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to X on Thursday, stating that the renaming is “a tribute to a visionary leader whose policies helped transform Bengaluru into a global hub of education, innovation, and infrastructure.”
Supporters argue that Dr. Singh’s economic reforms were instrumental in positioning Bengaluru as the “Silicon Valley of India,” pointing out his role in launching key infrastructure projects such as the Bengaluru-Electronic City Elevated Expressway and the Namma Metro.
However, the proposal has been met with backlash on social media. Critics have questioned why a local university should be named after a national figure with no direct academic association with the institution or the region. “Why not honour a Kannada scholar or educator?” asked one user, while another called it “a symbolic erasure of Kannada identity by Delhi-centric politics.”
Others expressed concern over the politicisation of educational institutions and the undermining of regional pride. Still, some voices urged balance, defending the decision as a recognition of national contributions and not a denial of local heritage.