AMU to Rename One of its Schools after Raja Mahendra Pratap
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Aligarh Muslim University is considering renaming one of its schools after the name of Raja Mahendra Pratap, a distinguished alumnus of the institution.
Recently the heirs of the property demanded that land leased out to the university should be returned to them. The university doesn't seem to end this association with the Raja of Mursan, Hathras (Mahendra Pratap) and hence a committee is formed headed by Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor to negotiate with the family. The university wants the family not to terminate this relationship which was once initiated by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan himself.
"The raja gave the university 3.04 acres of land on a 90-year lease in 1924, the term of the lease expired in 2019 and since then the dialogue is going on between the university administration and the family, we are looking for a way out," told Prof. ShafeyKidwai, Public Relations Officer.
Raja Mahendra Pratap was an Indian freedom fighter, philanthropist and a revolutionary. He was a distinguished alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University and was a student of Minto circle school. He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1932 for bringing India at par with European nations and his extensive work in the field of education. He is also remembered for establishing a provisional government of India in Afghanistan in 1915.
His association with the university is very profound and historical that his grandfather Raja Teekam Singh and father Raja Ghanshayam Singh accounted to the donated amount for the construction of a room in one of the hostel of the varsity which still exists in Sir Syed Hall. Raja Mahendra Pratap gave his land on lease for a school which is now known as AMU City High School.
Raja Mahendra Pratap was invited as chief guests in the centenary celebrations of Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1977.
In an interview given to The Hindu, Charat Pratap Singh, the great-grandson of Mahendra Pratap Singh said that they didn't want to disrupt the association with the educational institution but want the contribution in the establishment of the university of his grandfather to be acknowledged.
The local units of ruling political party, Bhartiya Janta Party in Aligarh and Hathras have been demanding the same for a long time now.
The family had made a recent demand to return the 1.2-acre land and to name the school after Raja Mahendra Pratap. However, the committee is formed in the university to engage in dialogue with the family and also considering to rename the school.