Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Wednesday wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah requesting that the national capital, Delhi, be renamed Indraprastha, following the Centre’s recent approval to rename Kerala as “Keralam.”In his letter, Khandelwal argued that the name Delhi reflects only a later historical phase, whereas Indraprastha connects the city to its ancient civilizational roots.“As such, the name ‘Delhi’ reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city. Restoring the name Indraprastha would therefore reconnect the capital of modern India with its ancient civilizational foundation. It would symbolise that the seat of the world’s largest democracy stands upon the legacy of one of humanity’s oldest cultural traditions,” Khandelwal wrote. The MP highlighted historical and archaeological evidence linking modern Delhi to the Pandavas’ capital described in the Mahabharata. Excavations at Purana Qila have revealed settlement layers dating back to around 1000 BCE, along with artifacts associated with that era, supporting the city’s ancient heritage.Khandelwal also outlined specific proposals, including renaming Old Delhi Railway Station as “Indraprastha Junction” and Indira Gandhi International Airport as “Indraprastha Airport.” He suggested installing statues of the Pandavas at prominent locations to educate younger generations about the city’s historical and cultural significance.“Delhi holds a very special place among India’s oldest cultural heritages. It is not merely a metropolis, but has been the centre of Indian civilisation, embodying the traditions of religion, governance, and democracy,” Khandelwal wrote. “Renaming it would reconnect us with our roots and mark the beginning of a new chapter in cultural revival.”He cited examples of other cities that reclaimed their historical names, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Kashi, arguing that such steps restore historical justice and strengthen national pride.A day earlier, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’. The move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the name ‘Keralam’. The assembly had earlier passed a similar resolution in August 2023, but the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested technical changes, prompting the state to adopt it again.The move to rename Kerala has sparked a political row, with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee questioning why a similar proposal for her state remains pending. The Trinamool Congress accused the Centre of “vindictive discrimination,” highlighting that West Bengal has repeatedly requested its renaming to “Bangla” since 2018.
