Bengaluru: Name change is a constant with Bengaluru City University: After the varsity underwent three name iterations in eight years, its campus headquarters is now facing a similar battle, caught between preserving a legacy and attempts to give it a new look.The key question is: Should the campus be called ‘Central College Campus’ or ‘Jnanajyothi Central College Campus’? Should it be called ‘college’ or ‘campus’? With isolated debates throwing up no clear answers, the university decided to form a committee to study the issue and recommend a name.In 2024, the Central College Campus was notified as ‘Jnanajyoti Central College Campus’. VR Devaraj, head of the department of postgraduate biochemistry, sent a request that it should be brought back to the ‘Central College Campus’ without affecting the grandeur and historical heritage of the campus.A committee under the chairmanship of syndicate member KP Patil was formed to re-examine the name. The committee met on April 22 and June 18. With opinions sharply differing, the committee referred it back to the syndicate. At a recent syndicate meeting, BCU finally decided to stick with ‘Jnanajyoti Central College Campus’.At the meeting, the issue was again taken up. The vice-chancellor outlined the historical trajectory of the campus: Starting as Central School in 1880, becoming Central College under Madras Presidency University in 1857, growing into a constituent science college under Mysore University in 1916, and housing Bangalore University after its establishment in 1964.After Bangalore University shifted to Jnanabharathi campus near Kengeri, this location in central Bengaluru was called ‘City Campus’ while retaining its renown as ‘Central College Campus’.“Giving a distinct name to the campus aligns with standard practices across state university campuses, prevents public confusion regarding separate college and university entities, and preserves the historical heritage of the campus. So the syndicate has resolved to retain and continue the official name of the campus as ‘Jnanajyoti Central College Campus’, as previously notified,” said B Ramesh, vice-chancellor of the university.Not all members were convinced. “Central college is a heritage campus. It’s an iconic building where stalwarts from CV Raman to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw studied. That is why we want the name of the ‘Central College’ to remain as that. It is part of a branding exercise,” said Supreeth B R, syndicate member.BCU’s history with name changeTrifurcation of Bangalore University in 2017 led to the creation of Bengaluru Central University. The new university comprised Central College campus with 200 affiliate colleges. With ‘Central’ in the name leading to impressions that it was a central govt entity, it was renamed ‘Bengaluru City University’ in 2020. Later in 2025, then chief minister Siddaramaiah, in his budget, announced that the varsity would be named after former Prime Minister, thus changing the name to ‘Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University’.
