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After Gurgaon got renamed to Gurugram, people, especially those associated with Gurgaon, have come out with mixed reactions. Some feel Gurgaon has lost its mojo after the renaming, whereas many believe that Gurugram sounds more traditional.
Renaming cities has been trend in Independent India. Bombay became Mumbai, Madras became Chennai, and Calcutta became Kolkata, and Bangalore became Bengaluru. In each case, the concerned state rested its case on the argument that since the older name was given during the British Raj, cities needed to be called with their erstwhile names post independence.
The Modi government, since its arrival in 2014, has approved the renaming of many cities. Karnataka has been the biggest state in terms of getting its cities renamed in the last couple of years. As many as 12 of the state's cities have been renamed in the last five years - Bangalore as Bengaluru, Mangalore as Mangaluru, Bellary as Ballari, Bijapur as Vijayapura or Vijapura, Belgaum as Belagavi, Chikmagalur as Chikkamagaluru, Gulbarga as Kalaburagi, Mysore as Mysuru, Hospet as Hosapete, Shimoga as Shivamogga, Hubli as Hubballi, and Tumkur as Tumakuru.
The renaming of a particular city takes place mainly because politicians, especially parties in power, seek to cash in on the sense of belonging bona fide residents have for their city. Apart from the big and lesser known renaming of cities, there have been scores of proposals sent to the Centre to rename famous cities such as Allahabad, Aurangabad, Ahmadabad, Patna, Faizabad, Lucknow, and even Delhi.
But amid the political grappling between rivals, the attempts to change the names of these cities have been thwarted.
Allahabad to Prayagraj
In 2001, the then BJP government led by Rajnath singh cleared the renaming of Allahabad to Prayaraj. But Political grappling thwarted their attempts and the city which holds a religious significance for Hindus is still known as Allahabad. However, with BJP in centre and elections in Up next Year, the government might take another attempt to rename Allahabad.
Ahmadabad to karnavati
In 1990 and 2001, BJP had recommended changing Ahmadabad's name to Karnavati after its Hindu King Karna. the resolution passed on May 11, 1990 to rename Ahmadabad as Karnavati was forwarded to the state government. The state government sent it to the Centre, but the Centre despite having an NDA government didn't approve it. Thus, the city is still known as Ahmadabad.
Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar
Shiv sena has been demanding this name change for quite a while now. But till date, no proposal has been sent to Centre by the state. Shiv Sena during its tenture between 1995-99 had changed Bombay's name to Mumbai. Aurangabad is an industrial town of Maharastra and has been named after the Mughal emperor aurangzeb. Siv sena wants it to be changed to Sambhaji Nagar. Sambhaji, the elder son of King Shivaji, was executed upon Aurangzeb's orderr after the Mughals captured him in 1689.
Patna to Patliputra
The ancient capital of Magadha Empire Patliputra has been in debates for many years. Many people including Bjp's stalwart Lk advani have advocated for renaming patna to patliputra. In 2010, LK Advani had advocated the renaming of the ancient city, but despite having a coalition with BJP, CM Nitish Kumar opposed this idea and battled for no change in name.
Bhopal to Bhojpal
The BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chauhan in 2011 had sent a proposal to Center's UPA government to change the name of capital Bhopal to Bhojpal. BJP wanted to change the name to mark the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Parmar King Raja Bhoj. In 2006 similar, attempts were made by then CM Uma Bharati, but in both 2006 as well as in 2011, the moves met severe opposition and were taken back.
New Delhi to Imperial City of New Delhi and Imperial City of Shahjahanabad
In 2015, April, Modi government had plans to rename the national capital two names. Imperial city of New Delhi for the area covering Lutyens' Delhi which houses majority of Center's working mechanism apart from the bungalows of mps; and the imperial city of shahjahanabad for the 400 year-old Mughal era walled city that the Delhites love to call Old Delhi. But this move too was ment with severe opposition and was taken back.
Shiv sena has been demanding this name change for quite a while now. But till date, no proposal has been sent to Centre by the state. Shiv Sena during its tenture between 1995-99 had changed Bombay's name to Mumbai. Aurangabad is an industrial town of Maharastra and has been named after the Mughal emperor aurangzeb. Siv sena wants it to be changed to Sambhaji Nagar. Sambhaji, the elder son of King Shivaji, was executed upon Aurangzeb's orderr after the Mughals captured him in 1689.
Patna to Patliputra
The ancient capital of Magadha Empire Patliputra has been in debates for many years. Many people including Bjp's stalwart Lk advani have advocated for renaming patna to patliputra. In 2010, LK Advani had advocated the renaming of the ancient city, but despite having a coalition with BJP, CM Nitish Kumar opposed this idea and battled for no change in name.
Bhopal to Bhojpal
The BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chauhan in 2011 had sent a proposal to Center's UPA government to change the name of capital Bhopal to Bhojpal. BJP wanted to change the name to mark the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Parmar King Raja Bhoj. In 2006 similar, attempts were made by then CM Uma Bharati, but in both 2006 as well as in 2011, the moves met severe opposition and were taken back.
New Delhi to Imperial City of New Delhi and Imperial City of Shahjahanabad
In 2015, April, Modi government had plans to rename the national capital two names. Imperial city of New Delhi for the area covering Lutyens' Delhi which houses majority of Center's working mechanism apart from the bungalows of mps; and the imperial city of shahjahanabad for the 400 year-old Mughal era walled city that the Delhites love to call Old Delhi. But this move too was ment with severe opposition and was taken back.
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