The University Grants Commission has approved setting up of the Bhima Bhoi Chair at Delhi University and Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur.
In separate letters to the two central universities, the UGC said that the varsities may create the Chair by utilising the already available vacant positions and other recurring expenditure may be charged to funds already being released to them.
Union minister of education Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed UGC’s decision. Pradhan took to microblogging website Twitter to speak about the development in a series of tweets.
"Welcome the approval of the UGC for establishment of Bhimabhoi Chair at the University of Delhi and Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya. A proponent of Mahima Dharma, Santha Kabi Bhimabhoi played a stellar role in rekindling the cultural and literary consciousness in Odisha," Pradhan tweeted.
"A visionary, Bhimabhoi through his earthy poems batted for the empowerment of the marginalised. Bhimabhoi Chairs at DU and GGV will encourage higher studies and research on the humanitarian philosophy of the great saint and is a fitting tribute to a literary giant, like him," he added.
Bhima Bhoi was a saint, poet and philosopher from Odisha. He fought against the caste system in Hinduism.