‘Name DU’s Veer Savarkar College after Manmohan Singh’, NSUI chief urges PM Modi

NEW DELHI: National Student’s Union of India (NSUI) president Varun Choudhary has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name the new DU college after former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The demand came ahead of reports that claimed that PM Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for a DU college named after Veer Savarkar along with two other campuses on January 3.

Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92.

“His recent passing has left a deep void, and the most fitting tribute to his legacy would be to dedicate premier educational institutions in his name (sic). Dr. Singh's monumental contributions, including the Central Universities Act, 2009, RTE Act 2000 established IITS, IIMs, AllMS, and a network of central universities across India. These initiatives revolutionized the nation's education system, benefiting millions,” Varun Choudhary said in an official letter to the prime minister’s office (PMO).

Recently, the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which was introduced during the tenure of Manmohan Singh, has drawn much attention with some education experts saying that the act has been a mixed bag of success and failures.

Manmohan Singh: NSUI demands

The NSUI national president also presented some demands in memory of India’s late former prime minister Manmohan Singh:

• Construction of a world-class college under the University of Delhi named after Manmohan Singh

• A central university dedicated to his name

He also advocated for the inclusion of Manmohan Singh’s life journey from a post-partition student to a global icon in academic curricula and political sphere. “Singh's legacy as a scholar, economist, and public servant embodies resilience, merit, and dedication to public welfare,” Choudhary said.

Naming institutions after him will inspire generations and honour his transformative vision, he said, adding: “The government must act immediately to recognize his unparalleled contributions to India, he added.