Marathwada University: From Establishment to the Struggle for Renaming

On 23rd August 1958, Marathwada University was established. After independence, several universities were set up in Maharashtra to spread education, and this institution soon became a significant center. However, in the following decades, it turned into more than just an academic space – it became a focal point of social, political, and cultural movements.

Before independence, the Marathwada region was under the rule of the Nizam. The area was drought-prone, underdeveloped, and economically backward. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar strongly felt that this region needed educational, social, and economic upliftment. He envisioned a university here to drive that progress. When the university was founded in 1958, the demand soon arose from the Dalit and oppressed communities that the university should bear the name of Dr. Ambedkar.

This demand grew into a powerful mass movement, later known as the “Namantar Andolan” (Renaming Movement). But the agitation was met with fierce opposition from dominant caste groups and resistance from the state machinery. To crush the struggle, violence was unleashed. Houses of Dalits were burnt, many were attacked, and several lost their lives. Yet, despite all these hardships, the movement did not stop.

For sixteen long years, the struggle continued with unwavering determination. The oppressed communities displayed extraordinary courage and sacrifice. Finally, on 14th January 1994, the government officially renamed the university as “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.”

This struggle was not merely about renaming a university. It symbolized the fight for dignity, equality, and social justice. The Namantar Andolan carved a new chapter in the socio-political history of Maharashtra and continues to inspire movements for self-respect and justice even today.