Hindu College, one of Delhi University’s most prestigious institutions, has undergone a visible transformation over the past decade, with several campus buildings now bearing the names of corporate donors.
This has not gone down well with faculty members, who argue this amounts to a “rewriting of the institution’s history” after more than a century of existence.
Established in 1899, Hindu College consistently ranks among the country’s top institutions, securing the first position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024 and 2025. Yet, critics say the new branding undermines its public character.
Donor Names on Historic Structures
Buildings such as the Relaxo Research Centre, Sanganeria Science Block, and Smt Indu Punj Girls Hostel prominently display donor names, creating what faculty describe as a misleading impression that these facilities were entirely funded by private entities.
The name of Sant Sanganeria, founder chairman of Ultra International Ltd and a member of the college’s governing body, is emblazoned on the main auditorium and faculty block. This has drawn criticism for favouring “corporate branding” over institutional identity.
Faculty Raise Objections
“Hindu College is a public‑funded institution with 95 per cent of operational costs met by the government through the University Grants Commission,” Prof Chandrachur Singh, senior faculty member and secretary of the staff council, told The Telegraph.
“There is nothing wrong with corporates donating funds to create or renovate facilities in a college or university. But such facilities cannot prominently display the names of such corporates in a manner giving a false impression that they were created by them,” he added.
Singh pointed out that Delhi University’s donation guidelines only permit donor names on commemorative plaques for a limited period, depending on the contribution. Naming entire structures after donors, he said, violates these rules.
Ratan Lal, associate professor and president of the staff association, alleged that the governing body is “dominated by corporate members” and accused it of running the institution “in an arbitrary manner” without transparency. “The institution is promoting a model of privatisation and commercialisation of education,” he said.
Debate Over Identity
Faculty members argue that some of the buildings being branded with donor names existed since the college’s inception or were built with UGC funds around 2010. They warn that replacing the college’s identity with corporate labels risks erasing its legacy.
“This is rewriting the history of the college,” Singh said, underscoring the tension between philanthropy and institutional autonomy.
College Defends Practice
Principal Anju Srivastava defended the move. “Whatever has been done with the support of philanthropists is within the framework of rules, regulations and guidelines of DU. All admissions have been made in conformity with the applicable rules and regulations of the University of Delhi,” she told The Telegraph.