Barkatullah University and the politics of selective memory

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan 

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre, a growing trend of renaming cities, roads, railway stations and public institutions has become increasingly visible. While governments have every right to commemorate historical figures and cultural icons, the pattern of these changes has often raised concerns, particularly when institutions named after Muslim personalities become targets for renaming. The latest example is Barkatullah University in Bhopal.

On June 3, the university's Executive Council passed a resolution proposing that the institution be renamed in honour of Goddess Saraswati, also known as Vagdevi, while drawing inspiration from Bhojpal, the ancient name of Bhopal associated with the Paramara ruler King Bhoj. Vice-Chancellor Suresh Kumar Jain confirmed the development to The Hindu. Supporters of the move may present it as an effort to reconnect with cultural heritage, but critics view it as part of a broader political project aimed at erasing or diminishing the contributions of Muslim figures from India's public memory.

The proposal raises important questions about how India remembers its freedom fighters, preserves its historical legacy and defines its national identity. To understand why Barkatullah University should retain its name, it is necessary to revisit the life and contributions of the man it honours.

Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali, born in Bhopal on July 7, 1854, was one of India's most remarkable anti-colonial revolutionaries. Gifted in languages such as Arabic, Persian and English, he carried the struggle against British rule far beyond India's borders. Unlike many freedom fighters who operated primarily within the country, Barkatullah transformed the cause of Indian independence into an international campaign.

His journey took him across Asia, Europe and North America, where he tirelessly advocated India's freedom. Though he spent much of his life in exile, his commitment to his homeland never wavered. He forged alliances with anti-colonial movements around the world and emerged as one of the most influential Indian revolutionaries working abroad. Inspired by resistance struggles across continents, Barkatullah believed that the fight against colonialism was not merely a national cause but part of a broader quest for justice, dignity and human freedom.

What distinguished Barkatullah from many of his contemporaries was his unwavering commitment to interfaith unity. He understood that India's liberation could only be achieved when people of all communities stood together against colonial rule. This vision found its most powerful expression in the Provisional Government of India established in Kabul in 1915. Alongside Raja Mahendra Pratap, a Hindu prince, and Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi, an eminent Islamic scholar, Barkatullah helped create one of the earliest Indian governments-in-exile.

Raja Mahendra Pratap served as President, while Barkatullah assumed the role of Prime Minister. Their collaboration remains a remarkable example of Indians from different religious and cultural backgrounds working together for a common cause. Long before secularism became a constitutional principle, these freedom fighters embodied its spirit through their actions. Their partnership reflected an India where faith was not a barrier but a source of collective strength.

Barkatullah's dedication came at a tremendous personal cost. He sacrificed comfort, family life and the possibility of returning home. He spent his final years in exile and died in the United States on September 20, 1927. He never lived to witness the freedom for which he had devoted his entire life. Yet his faith in India's future remained unshaken. Accounts of his final days suggest that his greatest sorrow was not the hardship he endured but the fact that he would not live to see an independent India.

The naming of Barkatullah University was therefore not merely symbolic. It was a national acknowledgment of a patriot whose sacrifices contributed significantly to India's struggle for independence.

The name "Barkatullah University" represents far more than an individual. It embodies a legacy of courage, intellectual resistance, international advocacy and communal harmony. The current proposal to rename the university cannot be viewed in isolation. It comes against the backdrop of numerous renaming exercises undertaken over the past decade. Critics argue that many such changes have disproportionately affected places and institutions associated with Muslim rulers, scholars and freedom fighters. Whether or not one agrees with that assessment, the perception itself is troubling because it risks reducing historical recognition to questions of religious identity.

Removing Barkatullah's name would send an unfortunate message: that the contributions of a freedom fighter can be overshadowed by his religious background. Such an approach would undermine the inclusive spirit that characterised India's freedom movement. The struggle for independence succeeded precisely because it united people across faiths, languages, castes and regions. To diminish Barkatullah's place in that history would be to diminish the richness of the freedom movement itself.

For decades, thousands of students have graduated from Barkatullah University carrying its name with pride. For them, the institution is not merely a place of learning but an integral part of their personal and professional journeys. Its name is associated with memories of academic achievement, friendships, aspirations and growth. Renaming the university would not simply alter official records; it would disrupt a shared identity built by generations of students and alumni.

Names are not empty labels. They become part of the cultural and emotional fabric of institutions and communities. A mature and confident nation does not erase its heroes; it remembers them. India's public spaces proudly commemorate freedom fighters from every community because their contributions belong to the shared heritage of the nation. The same principle must apply to Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali.

Honouring Goddess Saraswati or celebrating the legacy of King Bhoj does not require the removal of Barkatullah's name. India's history is expansive enough to accommodate all its heroes and cultural traditions. Recognition of one legacy need not come at the expense of another. To single out Barkatullah for exclusion would not constitute historical correction; it would amount to historical selectivity, a practice that weakens rather than strengthens national unity.

The debate surrounding Barkatullah University is ultimately about more than a name. It is about the values India chooses to uphold. Retaining the name of Maulana Barkatullah means preserving the memory of a freedom fighter who dedicated his life to the nation. It means honouring a vision of India built on unity, sacrifice and mutual respect. Most importantly, it reminds future generations that patriotism is defined not by religion but by commitment to the country and its people.

Barkatullah University must remain Barkatullah University because names carry stories, and stories shape national memory. His story reminds us that India belongs equally to all those who love it, serve it and sacrifice for it. In a democracy that prides itself on diversity and pluralism, preserving such legacies is not merely an act of remembrance; it is an affirmation of the very idea of India.

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The author is a freelance content writer and editor based in Nagpur. He is also an activist and social entrepreneur, and a co-founder of TruthScape, a collective of digital activists working to counter disinformation on social media