Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hinted at a potential renaming of Akbarpur, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Panch Pran' (five pledges), which prioritise removing vestiges of slavery and respecting heritage, among other principles. "Uttering the name of the city leaves a bad taste in mouth. Rest assured, all these things will change. We must eradicate all remnants of colonialism from our nation and honour our heritage," CM Adityanath said, new agency IANS reported citing an official release.
Mission to eradicate symbols of historical subjugation
Since assuming office in 2017, Adityanath has initiated a mission to eliminate symbols of historical subjugation in Uttar Pradesh. This effort extends beyond Akbarpur, as numerous districts within the state, including Aligarh, Azamgarh, Shahjahanpur, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Farrukhabad, and Moradabad, are also under consideration for name changes. As part of this endeavour, various roads, parks, intersections, and buildings across the state have been renamed in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Atal's legacy: A transformative influence on Lucknow
In Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the influence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is prominently visible. From Atal Bihari Vajpayee Road to Atal Chauraha, and from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Conference Centre to Atal Setu, and further to Atal Bihari Kalyan Mandap, his legacy is deeply ingrained in the city's landscape. Moreover, the historic Mughalsarai railway station, which ranks as the fourth busiest junction in the country, underwent a significant transformation with its renaming to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction.
UP's renaming wave and historical restoration
Just before the 2019 Kumbh Mela, the state government rechristened Allahabad to Prayagraj, a move rooted in reclaiming the city's historical identity. Saints contend that the original name of this historic locale was Prayagraj, which the Mughals altered to 'Allahabad'. Concurrently, Faizabad was renamed Ayodhya, and the Jhansi railway station was also renamed after Rani Lakshmi Bai.
Recently, the municipal bodies of Aligarh passed a resolution demanding the city's renaming to Harigarh, while Firozabad was proposed to be renamed Chandra Nagar. A similar proposal was also made in Mainpuri, where a demand was made to change the district's name to Mayapuri.
Proposed district name changes
Minister of State for Secondary Education Gulab Devi has demanded that the name of her home district, Sambhal, be changed to Prithviraj Nagar or Kalki Nagar. Former BJP MLA Devmani Dwivedi demanded that the Sultanpur district name be changed to Kushbhawanpur. This city was founded by Kush, son of Lord Rama. BJP MLA from Deoband assembly seat of Saharanpur, Brajesh Singh, has also demanded that Deoband be changed to Devvrind.
Deoband is known for the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, but it is claimed that the place has been referred to as Devvrind in ancient Hindu scriptures. Similarly, Alka Rai, former BJP MLA from the Mohammadabad seat of Ghazipur, has demanded that the name of Ghazipur be changed to Gadhipuri.
(With inputs from IANS)
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