{"id":3878,"date":"2026-05-08T05:45:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T05:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/?p=3878"},"modified":"2026-05-08T05:45:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T05:45:54","slug":"renaming-historical-cities-decolonization-or-erasing-indias-muslim-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/?p=3878","title":{"rendered":"RENAMING HISTORICAL CITIES: Decolonization or Erasing India\u2019s Muslim Heritage?"},"content":{"rendered":"

TOPIC 5<\/h1>\n

From Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya \u2013 Decolonization or Erasing Minority Heritage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

What\u2019s in a name? Shakespeare asked. In India under the BJP, the answer is: everything. Since 2014, a quiet but relentless renaming revolution has swept across the country \u2013 Allahabad became Prayagraj, Faizabad became Ayodhya, Aurangabad is now Sambhajinagar, and even Mughal-era roads and villages are being stripped of their \u2018Muslim-sounding\u2019 identities. The government calls it \u201cdecolonization\u201d and \u201creclaiming indigenous heritage.\u201d Critics call it the saffron erasure of India\u2019s pluralistic past \u2013 a systematic effort to replace Muslim and colonial names with Hindu-centric ones, reshaping collective memory one signboard at a time. This article investigates whether renaming is cultural restoration or cultural cleansing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

WHAT<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A sustained campaign by BJP-led central and state governments to rename cities, towns, roads, villages, and institutions that bear Muslim, Mughal, or colonial-era names, replacing them with Hindu mythological, historical, or regional names.<\/p>\n

WHO<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Led by the BJP and its state governments (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, etc.), supported by RSS affiliates, and endorsed by sections of the judiciary and intelligentsia.<\/p>\n

WHEN<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Accelerated dramatically after 2014, with major renaming waves in 2018-2019 (Prayagraj, Ayodhya), 2020-2023 (Aurangabad proposal), and 2024-2026 (village-level renaming in MP, UP).<\/p>\n

WHERE<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Across India, with particular intensity in the Hindi heartland (UP, MP) and Maharashtra, targeting Mughal-era names and Muslim-sounding villages.<\/p>\n

WHY<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Officially to shed \u201ccolonial and Mughal slavery,\u201d restore \u201cauthentic Indian names,\u201d and promote national pride. Critics argue the real goal is to erase Muslim heritage, assert Hindu majoritarianism, and consolidate the Hindutva vote bank.<\/p>\n

HOW<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Through state government resolutions, central government approvals, administrative orders, and \u2013 in some cases \u2013 unilateral announcements by chief ministers without legislative consultation.<\/p>\n

\n

THE CONSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL FRAMEWORK \u2013 CAN CITIES BE RENAMED?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Renaming cities in India is not unconstitutional, but it follows a specific legal process. The power to rename cities primarily rests with\u00a0state governments<\/strong>, subject to central government approval for changes that affect national records.<\/p>\n

Legal Process for Renaming a City:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step<\/th>\nAuthority<\/th>\nAction<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nState Government<\/td>\nProposes name change via state cabinet resolution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nState Legislature<\/td>\nMay pass resolution (not always required)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nCentral Government<\/td>\nApproves renaming and notifies the Registrar General of India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nMinistry of Home Affairs<\/td>\nIssues official gazette notification<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nVarious Departments<\/td>\nUpdate records (postal, railways, survey, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Notable Renamings Under BJP Governments:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Old Name<\/th>\nNew Name<\/th>\nYear<\/th>\nState<\/th>\nRuling Party<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Allahabad<\/td>\nPrayagraj<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUttar Pradesh<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Faizabad<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUttar Pradesh<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mughalsarai<\/td>\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUttar Pradesh<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aurangabad<\/td>\nSambhajinagar<\/td>\nProposed (pending central approval)<\/td>\nMaharashtra<\/td>\nBJP-Shiv Sena<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gurgaon<\/td>\nGurugram<\/td>\n2016<\/td>\nHaryana<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rajpath<\/td>\nKartavya Path<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\nDelhi (Central)<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Akbar Road (Delhi)<\/td>\nDr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road<\/td>\n2015<\/td>\nDelhi (Central)<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fatehabad (town)<\/td>\nSindoorapuram<\/td>\nProposed (Zila Panchayat resolution)<\/td>\nUttar Pradesh<\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Source for renaming list:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

ALLAHABAD TO PRAYAGRAJ \u2013 THE FLAGSHIP RENAME (2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj in 2018 was the most high-profile and controversial of the BJP\u2019s renaming exercises.<\/p>\n

Historical Background of \u201cAllahabad\u201d:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Period<\/th>\nName<\/th>\nOrigin<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ancient<\/td>\nPrayag<\/td>\nSanskrit for \u201cplace of sacrifice\u201d \u2013 at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mughal Era (1575)<\/td>\nIlahabad<\/td>\nEmperor Akbar founded the city and named it \u201cIlahabad\u201d (City of Allah)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
British Era<\/td>\nAllahabad<\/td>\nAnglicized version of Ilahabad; served as capital of United Provinces<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Post-Independence<\/td>\nAllahabad<\/td>\nRetained; home to Allahabad High Court and Anand Bhavan (Nehru family home)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Renaming Process (2018):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/th>\nEvent<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
October 2018<\/td>\nUP Cabinet (Yogi Adityanath government) approved renaming proposal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
November 2018<\/td>\nState legislature passed resolution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 2018<\/td>\nCentral government approved<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kumbh Mela 2019<\/td>\nNew name \u201cPrayagraj\u201d officially used during the festival<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Justification Given by UP Government:<\/strong><\/p>\n

UP Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh stated: \u201cThe renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj came for approval in the meeting and I am happy to say Allahabad will now be known as Prayagraj. Rig Veda, Mahabharat and Ramayana also mention Prayagraj (for Allahabad).\u201d<\/p>\n

Impact of the Rename:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Area<\/th>\nStatus Before<\/th>\nStatus After<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
City name<\/td>\nAllahabad<\/td>\nPrayagraj<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Division name<\/td>\nAllahabad<\/td>\nPrayagraj<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High Court<\/td>\nAllahabad High Court<\/td>\nStill \u201cAllahabad High Court\u201d (not renamed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
University<\/td>\nAllahabad University<\/td>\nStill \u201cAllahabad University\u201d (not renamed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lok Sabha Constituency<\/td>\nAllahabad<\/td>\nStill \u201cAllahabad\u201d (unchanged)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Anomaly:<\/strong>\u00a0As AAP MP Ashok Mittal noted in Parliament (March 2025): \u201cThe city has been renamed, but its high court and a prestigious university still carry the name \u2018Allahabad\u2019. Even the Lok Sabha constituency continues to be named Allahabad instead of Prayagraj.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akbar \u2018Prayagraji\u2019 Incident:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps the most absurd consequence of the renaming was documented in 2025: the famous Urdu poet\u00a0Akbar Allahabadi<\/strong>\u00a0was officially referred to as \u201cAkbar Prayagraji\u201d in some government records \u2013 changing the name of a deceased poet who never consented to the rename.<\/p>\n

\n

FAIZABAD TO AYODHYA \u2013 ERASING A MUSLIM-ERA DISTRICT (2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming of Faizabad district to Ayodhya in 2018 was even more politically and religiously charged than Allahabad\u2019s rename.<\/p>\n

Historical Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Period<\/th>\nName<\/th>\nSignificance<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ancient<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\nHindu epic Ramayana\u2019s capital of Lord Ram\u2019s kingdom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1528 CE<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nBabri Masjid built (disputed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18th Century<\/td>\nFaizabad<\/td>\nNawab of Awadh, Saadat Ali Khan, established Faizabad as capital \u2013 a major center of Urdu culture, poetry, and Shiite Islam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1850s<\/td>\nFaizabad<\/td>\nBritish retained name; district headquarters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1992<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nBabri Masjid demolished<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\nDistrict renamed from Faizabad to Ayodhya<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

What Was Renamed:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Entity<\/th>\nOld Name<\/th>\nNew Name<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
District<\/td>\nFaizabad<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Division<\/td>\nFaizabad<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
City<\/td>\nFaizabad (city)<\/td>\nRetained as Faizabad city (within Ayodhya district)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Erasure Concern:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The district of Faizabad was not just a colonial name \u2013 it was a\u00a0Muslim-era administrative and cultural center<\/strong>. Faizabad was the first capital of the Nawabs of Awadh, a center of Urdu poetry, and home to important Shiite monuments and imambaras. By renaming the entire district to Ayodhya \u2013 a Hindu religious site \u2013 the government effectively\u00a0submerged<\/strong>\u00a0Faizabad\u2019s Muslim heritage under a Hindu identity.<\/p>\n

Academic Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A 2024 academic study published in the journal\u00a0Antipode<\/em>\u00a0by Ghazala Jamil (JNU) analyzed the renaming: \u201cThe new Ayodhya, which lies at the heart of the Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) project, can arguably stand in as a metaphor for the project of transforming the secular Indian state into a Hindu nation (Hindu Rashtra).\u201d The study documented the \u201clegal-administrative erasure of Faizabad as a template for the effaced cultural history of Muslim urbanisms in India.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another academic analysis (Taylor & Francis, 2024)<\/strong>\u00a0examined how the renaming of Allahabad and Faizabad functions \u201csimultaneously as symbolic valorization, glorifying and legitimizing Hindu cultural supremacy, and as symbolic retribution, denigrating and erasing traces of the nearly thousand-year stretch when Muslim dynasties ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

AURANGABAD TO SAMBHAJINAGAR \u2013 THE LONG-PENDING RENAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar has a long and politically tangled history.<\/p>\n

Historical Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Period<\/th>\nName<\/th>\nOrigin<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1610 CE<\/td>\nAurangabad<\/td>\nFounded by Malik Ambar; named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1988<\/td>\nSambhajinagar<\/td>\nShiv Sena first proposed renaming after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (son of Shivaji)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020-2021<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nMaharashtra (MVA government) passed resolution for rename<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021-Present<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nPending central government approval<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Political Stalemate:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Party<\/th>\nPosition<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction)<\/strong><\/td>\nSupports rename; originally proposed it 30 years ago<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Congress<\/strong><\/td>\nOpposes rename; calls it divisive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BJP<\/strong><\/td>\nSupports rename but accuses MVA of doing it for political reasons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Central Government<\/strong><\/td>\nHas not approved rename despite MVA government\u2019s resolution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut (January 2021):<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe Shiv Sena had renamed Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar 30 years ago but the Centre has not yet approved its renaming. If Allahabad can be renamed Prayagraj, Faizabad as Ayodhya, and Delhi\u2019s Aurangzeb Road to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, then why didn\u2019t the BJP government approve the renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar?\u201d<\/p>\n

Congress\u2019s Objection:<\/strong>\u00a0Congress state chief Balasaheb Thorat stated that the renaming issue \u201cis not part of the Common Minimum Programme of the MVA government\u201d and that the party would oppose it if brought forward.<\/p>\n

Status as of 2026:<\/strong>\u00a0The central government has still not approved the rename, leading to accusations of political hypocrisy \u2013 supporting renaming when it suits the BJP (Prayagraj, Ayodhya) but delaying when initiated by rival parties.<\/p>\n

\n

VILLAGE-LEVEL RENAMING \u2013 THE NEW FRONTIER (2024-2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2024-2026, the renaming drive expanded from cities to villages \u2013 targeting \u2018Muslim-sounding\u2019 village names, often without legislative process.<\/p>\n

Madhya Pradesh (January 2025):<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav unilaterally announced a slew of village name changes over two consecutive Sundays.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Old Name<\/th>\nNew Name<\/th>\nJustification<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Mohammadpur<\/td>\nMohanpur<\/td>\nNamed after CM\u2019s own name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gajnikhedi<\/td>\nChamunda Mata Nagar<\/td>\n“Naam atakta hai” (name sticks)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jahangirpur<\/td>\nJagdishpur<\/td>\nRemoving \u2018Muslim-sounding\u2018 name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Molana<\/td>\nVikram Nagar<\/td>\nRemoving Islamic reference<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nipaniya Hissamuddin<\/td>\nNipaniya Dev<\/td>\nRemoving Muslim identifier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dhabla Hussainpur<\/td>\nDhabla Ram<\/td>\nReplacing Hussain with Ram<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mohammadpur Pawadia<\/td>\nRampur Pawadia<\/td>\nHinduizing the name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Khajuri Allahabad<\/td>\nKhajuri Ram<\/td>\nRemoving Allahabad reference<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hajipur<\/td>\nHirapur<\/td>\nHomophone for \u2018Haj\u2019 pilgrimage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Khalilpur Silonda<\/td>\nRampur Silonda<\/td>\nRemoving Islamic name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ghatti Mukhtiarpur<\/td>\nGhatti<\/td>\nTruncated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sheikhpur Bongi<\/td>\nAvadhpuri<\/td>\nRemoving \u2018Sheikh\u2018 identifier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Source for MP renaming data:<\/strong><\/p>\n

CM Yadav\u2019s Statement:<\/strong>\u00a0At a public gathering, the chief minister read out the old and new names amidst enthusiastic applause by BJP leaders. He justified the changes because \u201cnaam atakta hai\u201d (we stumble across the names) \u2013 essentially finding Muslim names difficult or uncomfortable to pronounce.<\/p>\n

Lack of Due Process:<\/strong>\u00a0Critics pointed out that there was no evidence of gram sabha deliberation or panchayat resolutions. The CM announced the changes unilaterally, apparently based on a list submitted by the local BJP MLA. \u201cHow democratic is it for the chief minister to announce the new names without any consultation or due process?\u201d questioned opposition leaders.<\/p>\n

The Dalit Angle Ignored:<\/strong>\u00a0Former chairman of MP Scheduled Castes Commission Pradeep Ahirwar noted the hypocrisy: \u201cWhile calling someone chamar is deemed a slur and may invite punishment, the government has been insensitive and indifferent to names like Chamariya, Chamrauha and Gadariya, which are on official records and humiliate the Dalit community. Why don\u2019t Dalit-sounding names stick out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Uttar Pradesh \u2013 Fatehabad to Sindoorapuram (Proposed, 2025):<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Agra Zila Panchayat passed a unanimous resolution to rename Fatehabad town to Sindoorapuram. The BJP-led resolution called the names \u201cremnants of the region\u2019s symbolic slavery tied to historical invasions and foreign rule.\u201d The aim was to \u201cshed colonial-era names and reclaim indigenous heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

DELHI \u2013 RENAMING ROADS AND MONUMENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming drive extended to the national capital, targeting Mughal-era roads and colonial monuments.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Old Name<\/th>\nNew Name<\/th>\nYear<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Aurangzeb Road<\/td>\nDr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road<\/td>\n2015<\/td>\nNamed after former President<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Race Course Road<\/td>\nLok Kalyan Marg<\/td>\n2016<\/td>\nPM\u2019s official residence address<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rajpath<\/td>\nKartavya Path<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\nCentral Vista redevelopment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Akbar Road<\/td>\n(Proposed)<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nUnder consideration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

AAP MP Ashok Mittal\u2019s Praise (March 2025):<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThese steps reflect a nationalistic thought process and are crucial in shedding the colonial mindset.\u201d He cited examples: Rajpath to Kartavya Path, Indian Penal Code to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Allahabad to Prayagraj.<\/p>\n

But Mittal also raised concerns:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cSeveral institutions, roads and landmarks still bear British-era names. The Allahabad High Court still carries the name \u2018Allahabad.\u2019 Even the Lok Sabha constituency continues to be named Allahabad instead of Prayagraj.\u201d He called for a parliamentary committee to examine further renaming efforts.<\/p>\n

\n

THE IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK \u2013 WHY RENAME?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Government\u2019s Official Rationale:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rationale<\/th>\nExplanation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Decolonization<\/strong><\/td>\nShedding names imposed by British and Mughal rulers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Restoring Authenticity<\/strong><\/td>\nReverting to names used in ancient Hindu texts (Rig Veda, Mahabharat, Ramayana)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Pride<\/strong><\/td>\nCreating a sense of cultural continuity and self-respect<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Removing \u2018Slavery Mindset\u2019<\/strong><\/td>\nPM Modi\u2019s phrase \u2013 liberating India from psychological colonization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

AAP MP Ashok Mittal (2025):<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI expressed concern over what I described as \u2018carrying the burden\u2019 of colonial-era names, which symbolize India\u2019s past under British rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Critics\u2019 Counter-Rationale:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Critique<\/th>\nExplanation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Erasing Muslim Heritage<\/strong><\/td>\nDeliberately targeting names associated with 1,000 years of Muslim rule in India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hindutva Majoritarianism<\/strong><\/td>\nImposing Hindu-centric identity on a pluralistic nation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Political Distraction<\/strong><\/td>\nUsing cultural issues to divert attention from economic failures (inflation, unemployment)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u201cUs vs Them\u201d Polarization<\/strong><\/td>\nCreating visible markers of Hindu superiority and Muslim marginalization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Academic Critique (Taylor & Francis, 2024):<\/strong>\u00a0The renaming strategy is \u201crooted in the divisive politics of communal polarization and exclusion under the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).\u201d It shows how \u201cthis change from Muslim- to Hindu-centric place names functions simultaneously as symbolic valorization, glorifying and legitimizing Hindu cultural supremacy, and as symbolic retribution, denigrating and erasing traces of the nearly thousand-year stretch when Muslim dynasties ruled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

THE SAFFRON STRATEGY \u2013 BEYOND NAMES<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming campaign is not isolated; it is part of a broader saffron strategy:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Strategy Layer<\/th>\nAction<\/th>\nGoal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Names<\/strong><\/td>\nRename cities, roads, villages<\/td>\nErase Muslim\/colonial markers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Textbooks<\/strong><\/td>\nRewrite history, reduce Mughal content<\/td>\nReshape generational memory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monuments<\/strong><\/td>\nRediscover temples under mosques<\/td>\nAssert Hindu primacy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Symbols<\/strong><\/td>\nPromote saffron flag, Ashoka Chakra replacement<\/td>\nNormalize Hindutva iconography<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language<\/strong><\/td>\nPush Hindi, Sanskrit; marginalize Urdu<\/td>\nLinguistic majoritarianism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Erasure of Urdu:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj had a direct impact on Urdu \u2013 the city\u2019s famous poet Akbar Allahabadi was being referred to as \u201cAkbar Prayagraji,\u201d erasing the very name he was known by for centuries.<\/p>\n

Similarly, villages with \u2018Hussain\u2018, \u2018Mohammad\u2018, \u2018Allah\u2018, \u2018Sheikh\u2018, \u2018Haj\u2018, \u2018Khalil\u2018, and other Islamic markers are being systematically renamed. The message is clear: Muslim identity has no permanent place in the saffron map of India.<\/p>\n

\n

PUBLIC OPINION \u2013 DIVIDED AND REGIONAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

A 2025 survey on renaming:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Question<\/th>\nSupport<\/th>\nOppose<\/th>\nNo Opinion<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Should Allahabad be Prayagraj?<\/td>\n52%<\/td>\n38%<\/td>\n10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Should Aurangabad be Sambhajinagar?<\/td>\n41%<\/td>\n47%<\/td>\n12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Should Muslim-sounding villages be renamed?<\/td>\n34%<\/td>\n55%<\/td>\n11%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Regional Breakdown (Support for renaming \u201cMuslim-sounding\u201d villages):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Region<\/th>\nSupport<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
North India (UP, MP)<\/td>\n48%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
West India<\/td>\n35%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
East India<\/td>\n28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South India<\/td>\n22%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northeast<\/td>\n20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Support is highest in the Hindi heartland (where the renaming is most aggressive) and lowest in the South and Northeast \u2013 regions with stronger regional identities and less saffron penetration.<\/p>\n

\n

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST RENAMING<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Renaming (Government, RSS, supporters):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Argument<\/th>\nResponse to Critics<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Names imposed by invaders should be changed<\/td>\n\u201cMughals and British were foreign rulers who conquered and imposed their culture. Restoring indigenous names is decolonization.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ancient texts support these names<\/td>\n\u201cPrayag is mentioned in Rig Veda and Ramayana. Ayodhya is Ram\u2019s birthplace. These are not new names \u2013 they are reclaimed names.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renaming builds national pride<\/td>\n\u201cWhen we remove names associated with slavery and invasion, we free our minds from colonial mentality.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It is a democratic process<\/td>\n\u201cState governments passed resolutions; central government approved. Due process was followed.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Against Renaming (Opposition, academics, activists):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Argument<\/th>\nResponse to Government<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
India\u2019s pluralistic history includes Muslim rule<\/td>\n\u201cMuslims ruled India for 1,000 years \u2013 their contribution is Indian heritage, not \u2018foreign invasion.\u2019 Erasing it is denying history.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renaming is selective \u2013 only Muslim\/colonial names<\/td>\n\u201cWhy are Hindu kings\u2019 failures not highlighted? Why no renaming of villages with Brahmin or upper-caste dominance?\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It alienates minorities<\/td>\n\u201cMuslims feel erased from India\u2019s narrative. This feeds their sense of marginalization and insecurity.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Expensive and administratively chaotic<\/td>\n\u201cRenaming costs crores in updating records, signboards, maps. That money could fund schools, hospitals, roads.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Constitutional Debate (Times of India legal analysis, March 2026):<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cTo rename a city is not merely to change a word on a map, but to engage with the constitutional expression of identity, memory and democratic will\u2026. Renaming, when undertaken with deliberation and responsibility, is not an act of erasure. It is an act of remembrance, one that aligns history with constitutional values and ensures that the stories we inherit are also the stories we choose to tell.\u201d The article emphasized the need for \u201chistorical authenticity grounded in credible evidence, public consultation ensuring inclusivity, administrative feasibility, and sensitivity to India\u2019s plural and diverse fabric.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

THE HINDU MARATHI VS SAFFRON NARRATIVE \u2013 AURANGABAD AS CASE STUDY<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Aurangabad\/Sambhajinagar controversy reveals internal Hindu political tensions.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stance<\/th>\nParty<\/th>\nPosition<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Support Rename<\/strong><\/td>\nShiv Sena (Uddhav)<\/td>\nRenamed 30 years ago; supports it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Support Rename<\/strong><\/td>\nBJP<\/td>\nSupports but delays approval because MVA proposed it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oppose Rename<\/strong><\/td>\nCongress<\/td>\nOpposes; calls it divisive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Hypocrisy Charge:<\/strong>\u00a0Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut: \u201cIf Allahabad can be renamed Prayagraj, Faizabad as Ayodhya, and Aurangzeb Road to Kalam Road, then why didn\u2019t the BJP government approve the renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Answer:<\/strong>\u00a0Politics. The BJP supports renaming when it controls the state government (UP, MP) but delays or obstructs when the proposal comes from rival parties (Maharashtra\u2019s MVA). This reveals that renaming is not a principled \u201cdecolonization\u201d drive \u2013 it is a\u00a0political tool<\/strong>\u00a0to consolidate Hindutva votes while denying the same political capital to opponents.<\/p>\n

\n

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON \u2013 RENAMING AROUND THE WORLD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nRenaming Examples<\/th>\nNature<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
India (BJP)<\/strong><\/td>\nAllahabad\u2192Prayagraj, Faizabad\u2192Ayodhya<\/td>\nHindu majoritarian, erasing Muslim heritage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Myanmar<\/strong><\/td>\nBurma\u2192Myanmar (1989)<\/td>\nMilitary regime; ethnic cleansing context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/td>\nCeylon\u2192Sri Lanka (1972)<\/td>\nPost-colonial reclamation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\nConstantinople\u2192Istanbul (1930)<\/td>\nSecular nation-building<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/td>\nSalisbury\u2192Harare (1982)<\/td>\nPost-colonial Africanization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ireland<\/strong><\/td>\nKingstown\u2192D\u00fan Laoghaire (post-independence)<\/td>\nDe-anglicization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Observation:<\/strong>\u00a0India\u2019s renaming under the BJP is unique in its\u00a0selective targeting of Muslim names<\/strong>\u00a0(not colonial names only) and its\u00a0association with a religious majoritarian political project<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 rather than a purely post-colonial or linguistic reclamation.<\/p>\n

\n

SUMMARY TABLE: MAJOR RENAMINGS UNDER BJP (2014-2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Old Name<\/th>\nNew Name<\/th>\nYear<\/th>\nState<\/th>\nCategory<\/th>\nStatus<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Allahabad<\/td>\nPrayagraj<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUP<\/td>\nCity<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Faizabad (district)<\/td>\nAyodhya<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUP<\/td>\nDistrict<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mughalsarai<\/td>\nPt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar<\/td>\n2018<\/td>\nUP<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gurgaon<\/td>\nGurugram<\/td>\n2016<\/td>\nHaryana<\/td>\nCity<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rajpath<\/td>\nKartavya Path<\/td>\n2022<\/td>\nDelhi<\/td>\nRoad<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aurangzeb Road<\/td>\nDr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road<\/td>\n2015<\/td>\nDelhi<\/td>\nRoad<\/td>\nCompleted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Akbar Road<\/td>\n(Proposed)<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\nDelhi<\/td>\nRoad<\/td>\nPending<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aurangabad<\/td>\nSambhajinagar<\/td>\nProposed<\/td>\nMaharashtra<\/td>\nCity<\/td>\nPending central approval<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fatehabad (town)<\/td>\nSindoorapuram<\/td>\nProposed<\/td>\nUP<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\nZila Panchayat resolution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mohammadpur (MP)<\/td>\nMohanpur<\/td>\n2025<\/td>\nMP<\/td>\nVillage<\/td>\nUnilateral CM announcement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n

CONCLUSION \u2013 NAMES AS BATTLEGROUNDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renaming of cities, villages, and roads under the BJP is not an innocent exercise in cultural restoration. It is a\u00a0systematic political project<\/strong>\u00a0with clear characteristics:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Selective Targeting:<\/strong>\u00a0Only Muslim, Mughal, and colonial names are targeted \u2013 never Hindu or Brahminical names, even when they are equally \u2018imposed\u2019 or historically contentious.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Majoritarian Assertion:<\/strong>\u00a0Hindutva ideology seeks to replace India\u2019s pluralistic, multi-religious identity with a single Hindu-centric narrative \u2013 and names are the most visible markers of that identity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Collective Memory Engineering:<\/strong>\u00a0By erasing Muslim names from maps, textbooks, and official records, the government ensures that future generations grow up without visible reminders of India\u2019s 1,000-year Muslim-ruled past.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Political Consolidation:<\/strong>\u00a0Renaming is used to energize the Hindutva base before elections, to assert dominance over opposition-ruled states, and to deny political rivals the same \u2018nationalist\u2019 capital.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Fundamental Question:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Is India a nation that\u00a0remembers<\/strong>\u00a0its entire history \u2013 Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, colonial, and post-colonial \u2013 or a nation that\u00a0selectively erases<\/strong>\u00a0the parts that do not fit the saffron narrative?<\/p>\n

    The renaming revolution says:\u00a0erase<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    But names have a way of persisting. The older generation will always call Allahabad by its name. The poet Akbar Allahabadi will not become \u201cAkbar Prayagraji\u201d in the hearts of Urdu lovers. And the Muslims of Faizabad will remember that their city was once a center of Shiite culture, even if the map now says only Ayodhya.<\/p>\n

    The saffron brush is painting over history. But history bleeds through.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    SUMMARY TABLE: RENAMING \u2013 FOR AND AGAINST<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
    \n
    <\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Aspect<\/th>\nGovernment Position<\/th>\nOpposition\/Independent Position<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Justification<\/strong><\/td>\nDecolonization, restoring indigenous names<\/td>\nErasing Muslim heritage, majoritarianism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Target<\/strong><\/td>\nMuslim and colonial names<\/td>\nOnly Muslim names targeted, not Brahminical ones<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Process<\/strong><\/td>\nDemocratic (state resolutions)<\/td>\nOften unilateral (MP villages, no gram sabha)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cost<\/strong><\/td>\nMinimal (signboards, records)<\/td>\nSignificant (admitting cost is ignored)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Impact on Muslims<\/strong><\/td>\nNone \u2013 all Indians benefit<\/td>\nAlienating, erasing, marginalizing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Political Use<\/strong><\/td>\nNational pride<\/td>\nPre-election Hindutva consolidation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
    \n

    Continued Topic 6<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    TOPIC 5 From Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya \u2013 Decolonization or Erasing Minority Heritage? What\u2019s in a name? Shakespeare asked. In India under the BJP, the answer is: everything. Since 2014, a quiet but relentless renaming revolution has swept across the country \u2013 Allahabad became Prayagraj, Faizabad became Ayodhya, Aurangabad is now Sambhajinagar, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowk73GDA:productID":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[50,49,46],"tags":[884,892,898,887,886,893,889,885,900,353,901,897,899,894,896,890,880,891,895,888],"class_list":["post-3878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-historical-facts","category-social-myths","category-truth-facts","tag-allahabad-to-prayagraj","tag-aurangabad-sambhajinagar","tag-bjp-cultural-agenda","tag-bjp-renaming-agenda","tag-city-renaming-controversy-india","tag-cultural-cleansing-debate","tag-decolonization-debate-india","tag-faizabad-to-ayodhya","tag-hindu-nationalist-politics","tag-hindutva-politics","tag-historical-city-name-changes","tag-historical-memory-politics","tag-india-heritage-debate","tag-indian-political-symbolism","tag-minority-heritage-india","tag-mughal-heritage-controversy","tag-nationalism-and-identity","tag-renaming-cities-india","tag-rewriting-history-india","tag-saffronisation-of-history"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3878"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3880,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3878\/revisions\/3880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/untoldpages.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}