Editing Osmania University (section)

== History ==
[[File:Hydari_ViceChancellor_InaugurationArtsCollege-OsmaniaUni_1937.jpeg|thumb|left|Inauguration of "Osmania University Arts College" by the Nizam [[Mir Osman Ali Khan]], c. 1937.|alt=]]
[[File:Osmania University under construction 1939.jpg|thumb|left|Osmania Arts college in 1930s]]
[[File:Hyderabad_City_IB1142.jpg|thumb|Students dressed in ''[[sherwani]]'' at the University College of Arts, c. 1939–1945.]]
[[File:Dr._Vijayam,_professor_at_Osmania_University,_Hyderabad,_India,_1973_(16444420594).jpg|thumb|[[B. E. Vijayam]] addresses students with the arts college in the background, c. 1973.]]
In 1917, [[Akbar Hydari|Sir Akbar Hydari]], in a memorandum to the Education Minister, emphasised the need to establish a university in Hyderabad with [[Urdu]] as the medium of instruction, "as it is the language of the widest currency in the state".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ou-architect-was-nizams-emissary-before-merger/articleshow/58323078.cms|title=OU architect was Nizam's emissary before merger|date=23 April 2017|first=Syed|last=Akbar|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=6 October 2019|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105153309/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ou-architect-was-nizams-emissary-before-merger/articleshow/58323078.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 April 1917, the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] [[Mir Osman Ali Khan]] issued a [[firman]] to establish the Osmania University.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2019-01-28 |title=How the Osmania University came about |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/how-the-osmania-university-came-about/article26112585.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The university began functioning in 1918 in a building adjacent to the Nizam College at [[Basheerbagh]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-02-22 |title=Osmania University first varsity in India to introduce Urdu medium |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/osmania-university-first-varsity-in-india-to-introduce-urdu-medium/articleshow/57283475.cms |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Arts and theology were the only two faculties offered, and the first batch consisted of 225 students and 25 faculty members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mohan |first=Saadhya |date=2022-05-06 |title=In Limelight for Denying Entry to Rahul, Osmania University Has a Rich History |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/education/on-the-docket-for-denying-entry-for-rahul-osmania-university-has-a-rich-history-controversy-telangana |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref>

The government invited [[Patrick Geddes]] and Edwin Jasper to set up a permanent campus of the university.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-04-08 |title=Arts College building, a hand-me-down architectural gem |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/arts-college-building-a-hand-me-down-architectural-gem/article17895207.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Geddes surveyed prospective locations and presented his report in 1923.<ref name=":0" /> Jasper drew up the building plans and the Nizam laid the foundation stone for the campus on 5 July 1934.<ref name=":0" /> After Jasper left Hyderabad, the state architect [[Zain Yar Jung]] supervised the construction of the campus.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-10-08 |title=Arts College: a historic masterpiece |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/education/college-and-university/Arts-College-a-historic-masterpiece/article12550064.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Post-Independence (1947-present) ===
After independence and the [[Indian annexation of Hyderabad|accession of Hyderabad State]] in 1948, the university fell under the purview of the state government. After the election of the first state government, the central government announced plans to convert Osmania University into a [[Central university (India)|central university]] with [[Hindi]] as the medium of instructions. However, this led to protests and with pressure from the [[1952 Mulkhi Agitation (Telangana)|Mulki agitation]], the plan was dropped.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-03-18 |title=When Nehru dropped Hindi bombshell & Osmania University erupted |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/when-nehru-dropped-hindi-bombshell-osmania-university-erupted/articleshow/57699058.cms |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Eventually, English replaced Urdu as the medium of instruction, and the Nizam's crown was also removed from the university seal.