There are so many cities in India that are named after the brutal conquerors, from Moghul rulers to British, French and Portuguese invaders that have left a bitter taste among vast number of residents. While State governments are eager and willing to rename cities that bear Western influence, such as Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Baroda to Vadodara and Calcutta to Kolkata, not meaningful in the eyes of many, as it is just playing with alphabets rather than giving them new names or restoring old, traditional names they were known as hundreds of years ago, decorous Hindus politicians are reluctant to rename cities that bear traditional Islamic names.
While it is understandable to retain names given by conquerors if these cities were newly built by them with no historic background, it is also understandable if some of these names are changed to its original names, like Ahmedabad to Karnavati, the name which was in use for a long time before Gujarat was conquered by Ahmed Shah. Both names are historically appropriate and as Shakespeare wrote, “Rose by any name would smell sweet!” But Shakespeare was an academic, not a politician!
These long standing demands will be fulfilled, at least in one state led by CM “Yogi Adityanath” of BJP who won a stunning victory at the last Assembly elections, with a promise to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj, the ancient name of the city which was changed to its present name after 16th Century Emperor Akbar built a fort near the confluence of three most revered rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati, known as Sangam.
According to ancient belief with religious significance, Prayag, on the banks of Sangam, is the site where Lord Brahma performed first Yagna, thus a holy place of great importance to Hindus, explained the CM Adityanath. Another significant reason is that it is the site of the greatest gathering of humans anywhere in the world, known as “Kumbh Mela” which will be held there in 2019, after the name change.
There are so many places bearing such names honouring brutal conquerors that need name change but I hope new names may reflect, honour comparatively recent saints, freedom fighters and noble sons of India, like Sardar, Bose, Gandhi, Tagore, Abdul Kalam Azad, Zakir Hussain, Shivaji, Maha Rana Pratap, Sikh Gurus and few more who are responsible for the liberation of Bharat from the clutches of British Raj.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
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