Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI— The recent decision of Maharashtra government to name the Dongri Industrial Training Institute (ITI) after Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has sparked a heated debate. BJP leader and cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Tuesday accused Congress MLA Amin Patel of opposing the decision, a claim which Patel swiftly dismissed as baseless.
At a press conference, Lodha asserted that Patel had requested a name change for the ITI, emphasising that there were no plans to alter its current name. He reaffirmed that Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, as a former president and a prominent figure in science and technology, deserved to be honoured. “The name of the ITI will remain unchanged under any circumstances,” Lodha stated firmly.
Patel, however, dismissed these allegations, clarifying that the institution had originally been named after Abdul Rahman Shah Baba a decade ago, during the tenure of former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. “The ITI was named after Abdul Rahman Shah Baba ten years ago, and the plaque bearing his name still exists,” Patel explained. “There is no question of renaming it after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam now, as that decision was already made previously.”
Lodha further said that while the official name of the Dongri ITI would remain as it is, a significant ceremony would be held to install a plaque honouring Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s contribution to the nation. “We will hold a grand event to unveil a plaque featuring Dr Kalam’s name, as he is an icon not just in India, but the world over.”
Patel, in response, suggested that such prestigious recognition should be extended more widely, stating, “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is not only the greatest personality in this country but across the world. His exceptional contributions to science and technology should be acknowledged by naming medical colleges and other important institutions in his honour across Maharashtra.”
The controversy arose after a formal request was submitted by some members of the community to rename the Dongri ITI after Haji Abdul Rahman Shah Baba Dargah, a revered figure in the region. Patel commented, “I have immense respect for the local personalities, but the matter of the institution’s name should reflect the nation’s heroes and symbols of national progress.”
The Cabinet Minister, however, stood firm on his position, asserting that government industrial institutions, including ITIs, play a pivotal role in skill development and should carry the names of those who have made notable contributions to the country. “We are honouring those who have dedicated their lives to serving the country,” Lodha said.
The matter was discussed in a meeting of the District Planning Committee of Mumbai City, with Deputy Chief Minister Shinde also present. The government has made it clear that the names of public institutions will be assigned with careful consideration, reflecting the importance of national figures and the development of the state.
Despite the division on this issue, there seems to be consensus that the contributions of both local and national heroes will continue to be celebrated in the city’s public institutions.
