Patna University's Wheeler Senate House Turns 100 Amid Renaming Controversy

• Patna University's historic Wheeler Senate House, a traditional convocation venue, marked its 100th anniversary on Friday, March 20, 2026.
• The building, inaugurated on March 20, 1926, by Sir Henry Wheeler, hosted Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1936 and numerous other significant events.
• Despite its centennial, no commemorative event was held, and its facade is now obscured by a new double-decker flyover.
• The senate house was controversially renamed 'Jayaprakash Narayan Anushad Bhawan' in 2023, drawing criticism from heritage lovers and alumni.
• Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar had suggested renaming it after Rabindranath Tagore, citing its colonial-era name.