Hindu College, a prominent Delhi University institution established in 1899, is facing criticism over the display of corporate donor names on campus buildings. Faculty members argue that the branding risks overshadowing the college’s history and creating a misleading impression about who funded its infrastructure.

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Buildings and facilities carrying names such as Relaxo Research Centre, Sanganeria Science Block and Smt. Indu Punj Girls Hostel have become the focus of the debate. Critics say corporate donations for renovation and upgrades should not automatically translate into prominent naming rights.

The controversy has also raised questions about public funding. According to the report, around 95% of Hindu College’s operational expenses are covered by the government through the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Chandrachur Singh, a senior faculty member and secretary of the college’s staff council, said donor recognition should not suggest that private entities created facilities that may have originally been built with public funds. He also cited Delhi University’s donation guidelines, which he said restrict donor recognition to commemorative plaques for a limited period and rule out naming structures after donors.

Singh argued that some campus buildings predate recent corporate contributions, while others were constructed with UGC funding. In his view, displaying donor names prominently on these structures risks rewriting the institution’s history.

Ratan Lal, an associate professor and president of the staff association, separately questioned the composition of the college’s governing body, alleging that several members associated with the Hindu Education Trust also had links to corporate houses.

The debate highlights a wider question for publicly funded educational institutions: how should colleges recognise private donations while maintaining transparency, institutional identity and accountability? The college principal’s position, as outlined in the report’s headline, is that the naming decisions comply with university rules.