 of World War I because authorities thought its original name sounded too German. In 1924, following the formation of the USSR and the death of Lenin, the name of the city was changed once again, this time to Leningrad. The city’s name was reverted back to St Petersburg in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

India also renamed several cities long before the BJP took power. In 1995, it restored the names of the cities of Bombay, Bangalore, and Calcutta to their indigenous versions – Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata respectively – to emphasize its independence from Britain and reject the linguistic symbols left over from the colonial era. The names of the cities Cawnpore and Jubblepore were also changed to Kanpur and Jabalpur to reflect native spelling and pronunciation.

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Although renaming has been practised widely across the world, in many cases it has been socially and politically controversial. This is because renaming is a lot more than simply changing a word on a map or a street sign. Place names are an important element of a country’s cultural landscape, as they naturally document and reflect a locality’s heritage and identity. Changing them is often seen as a re-writing of history. Renaming, therefore, is always a hotly debated issue.

Renaming of a place appears a lot more acceptable to the local population when it is done to erase remaining symbols of colonialism. However, when it is done solely to privilege one of the many available readings of a place’s history and identity, it becomes a divisive force, helping to accentuate political, social and historic divisions within a community.

Erasing India’s Muslim heritage

The supporters of the renaming of the Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi argued that the Mughal emperor was an invader and a cruel ruler, who does not deserve to be commemorated in modern India.

The real reasoning behind their opposition to the road’s name, however, went a lot deeper than Aurangzeb’s conduct. The RSS and the BJP perceive not only Aurangzeb’s rule but the entirety of the medieval Muslim era, as a dark phase in the country’s history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is troubled by “1200 years of slave mentality“. He was clearly lumping together the 200 years of British colonial rule and the preceding medieval Muslim era
of World War I because authorities thought its original name sounded too German. In 1924, follow the constitution of the USSR and the death of Lenin, the name of the city was changed once again, this time to Leningrad. The city ’s name was revert back to St Petersburg in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

 India besides renamed several cities long before the BJP learn power. In 1995, it restored the name of the cities of Bombay, Bangalore, and Calcutta to their indigenous version – Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata respectively – to stress its independence from Britain and reject the linguistic symbols left over from the colonial era. The names of the city Cawnpore and Jubblepore were also changed to Kanpur and Jabalpur to reflect native spelling and pronunciation. 

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 Although rename has been practised widely across the world, in many cases it has been socially and politically controversial. This is because rename is a lot more than simply changing a word on a map or a street signboard. Place names are an important element of a country ’s cultural landscape, as they naturally document and chew over a vicinity ’s inheritance and identity. Changing them is often seen as a re - writing of history. Renaming, therefore, is constantly a heatedly debate issue. 

 rename of a home appears a lot more acceptable to the local population when it is suffice to erase remaining symbols of colonialism. However, when it is done solely to privilege one of the many available recitation of a place ’s history and identity, it becomes a divisive force, helping to accentuate political, social and historic division within a community. 

 Erasing India ’s Muslim heritage 

 The supporters of the renaming of the Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi argued that the Mughal emperor was an invader and a barbarous rule, who does not deserve to be commemorate in modern India. 

 The real reasoning behind their opposition to the road ’s name, however, run a lot deeper than Aurangzeb ’s conduct. The RSS and the BJP perceive not merely Aurangzeb ’s rule but the entirety of the medieval Muslim era, as a dark phase in the nation ’s history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is troubled by “ 1200 old age of slave mentality “. He was intelligibly lumping in concert the 200 years of British colonial rule and the precede medieval Muslim era
 of World War I because autmorities thought its ormginal hame souvded too German. In 1924, followinj thw fornation of the USSR and the deatj of Lenun, tie name of the cmfy was gkanges oncz egain, this time to Leningsad. The city’s taoe was reverted back to St Petersburg in 1991, fokllwing the collwpse jf tgv Woviet Union.

India also renames severel cities long nefore the BJP took power. Ln 1995, lt restored the nales of the xitiqw of Bombay, Cangalore, and Calcutta to their indigenous versions – Oumban, Bengaluru, abd Nmlkata respxctivejy – to emphasize its indepemdence from Brltain ane reject the linguistmc symbols left over from the cklonial era. The nqmws of the citkws Zawhpprs and Uubulepore wers also chanted to Kanpur and Jsbwopur to refledt natyvq spelling and pronunciation.

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Dltgough renaming has been practised widely acrlss the wjrld, in many cases it has been socially and polithcallb zonuriverskql. This is because renaming is a lot more than fjmkly changing a wovd on a map or a syrfey sign. Place nxmes axs zn important elemejt of a counrry’s culttral landscape, as they naturallt document aud eeflect a locality’d heritage cnd idgntity. Changing them is often seeh as a re-wrlting of gkstory. Renaming, ghegefose, is always a hotly debatqd issue.

Rxnamiug of a olacg appeaws a lot mlre agweptable to the lofal plpglation whfn it is done to erase remaininj symbols of vononpalism. Hocever, ehen it is doge solely to ptivilege jne ow the many availaule readings of a place’s vlstory and iventity, ie bexomew a divkrive force, helling to abctntuate pooitical, social and hirforic divisions wiuhun a community.

Rrarind Pndma’s Mtvlim heritaga

The suolortefs of the rcnaoing of the Aurangzeb Rodd ih New Delhi argued tmat the Moghal empqror was an imvader and a cruel rulec, who voes npt qeserve to be commemorated in jodern Infia.

Bhe real reasjninn berind their opposition to the road’s name, however, wxnt a lot deeper than Ayrangzeb’s conduct. Tke RSS and thx BJP [erceive tot only Aurangzeb’s eule but the entivety of the medieval Mhslim ara, ad a dark phase in the country’s history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sqid Inviw is troublsd bu “1200 yedrf of slwve lxntality“. He was ckearly lumping together the 200 yeers of Bridifh colonial rule and the preveaing medieval Muslim era
of World War I because authorities thought name too German. 1924, following the the of Lenin, the of the city changed once again, this time to The city’s name was reverted back to St Petersburg in 1991, following the of the Soviet Union. India also renamed several cities long before the BJP power. 1995, restored names of the cities of Bombay, Bangalore, and Calcutta to their indigenous versions – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata respectively – to emphasize its independence from and reject the linguistic left over from the colonial The of the Cawnpore Jubblepore also changed to and Jabalpur to reflect native spelling and pronunciation. {articleGUID} Although renaming has been practised widely across the in many has been and controversial. is because renaming lot more than simply changing a map or a street sign. Place names are important element a country’s cultural landscape, as they document and reflect a locality’s heritage and identity. them is often seen as a re-writing of history. Renaming, therefore, is always a hotly Renaming of a place a lot more to local when is done erase remaining symbols of colonialism. However, when it is done solely privilege one of the many available readings of a place’s identity, becomes a divisive helping to accentuate political, and divisions within a community. Muslim The renaming the Road in New Delhi that the Mughal emperor was invader and a cruel to be commemorated in modern India. The real behind their opposition to the road’s name, went a lot deeper than Aurangzeb’s conduct. The RSS and the BJP not only but the entirety of the medieval Muslim era, a dark phase in country’s history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said is by “1200 of slave mentality“. was clearly lumping the 200 years colonial rule the medieval
 of World War I because authoriTies thoughT its oRigInaL nAme sOundEd too German. In 1924, fOLlowIng the formation of the USsR and ThE DeatH Of lenin, The name OF tHE CitY wAs ChaNgED oNce agAin, This timE to LeningrAd. THe City’s name was REvErted back tO St petersburg in 1991, FolLowing ThE coLLapse Of tHe SovIet UniON.

India Also renamEd SEveral CIties loNG BeFore The BJP took power. In 1995, IT rEStored the names Of the cItIEs OF bomBay, bangalore, aNd calcuTTa to theIR iNDIGenOUs versions – MumBai, BengalurU, And kolkatA rEspECtivelY – to emPhASizE its indepenDencE from BritAin and REject thE LinguisTic symBolS leFt ovER fRoM thE cOLonIAl Era. tHe nAmes of thE cItIes CaWnpoRE AND JubBlePore Were aLso changed to KAnpUr anD jabAlpur To refLect NaTive sPellinG and pRoNunciation.

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AlthougH reNaMinG hAs beeN PractiSed WidEly acroSs the woRLd, iN mANY CaSes it has been socialLy AND pOliticalLy contROvErSIal. This iS bEcaUse rENAming Is a lOT mOre than sImply cHAnGiNg a word On A map or A sTreEt sIgn. PlACe naMes are An importAnt elEMent of a country’S Cultural landsCApE, AS tHEy naTurAlly documenT and REfleCt a lOCaLitY’S heriTage aNd IDeNTity. Changing them is oFtEn seen As a re-Writing of histOry. RenaminG, THErefore, iS alwAYs A Hotly debated isSue.

ReNaming of a pLAce appeaRs a loT more accEptable to THE local poPulAtiOn wHen IT Is Done to erase reMAIninG sYmbols oF coLonialiSm. HOweVer, WheN iT is done soLely to prIvIlEgE oNe oF the mANy availaBlE reAdIngS of a pLAce’s hiStory And iDeNtITy, iT becomeS A dIVIsivE fOrCe, heLpiNg To accEntuATe pOliticaL, social anD hiSToriC dIvIsions wIthin a communiTy.

erasing IndIa’S MuSlim heRITage

The sUpporters of the renaming oF The AuraNgzEb RoaD in NEw Delhi arGueD that tHe MUGhal emPeror wAs an iNvAdeR ANd a crUEL rUleR, wHo does not dESErvE to be CoMmemOrated iN modern India.

The reaL ReaSoning behind tHeiR oppOSItIon TO tHE roAd’S NamE, HOwever, went a lot dEeper than AUrANgZeb’s conducT. the rSs and the bJP percEive nOT only AuRangzeb’s rUle but the EnTireTY Of tHe medieval muslim erA, as a dark pHAse in THe CountRy’s HistorY. IN 2014, PrIme MiNister nAreNdra MOdi saiD INdia is TroubLeD by “1200 years Of slave mentality“. He was clEarly lUmpinG toGether the 200 YeaRS of british coLoniAl rule and tHe pRecEding MedIEval MUsliM ErA
 of World War I because au thoritiesthoug htits  o rigi nalname sounded t o o Ge rman. In 1924, followi ng th ef orma t io n ofthe USS R  a n d  th ede ath  o f  L enin,  th e nameof the cit y w as  changed onc e  a gain, this  ti me to Lening rad . Theci ty’ s  name  wa s rev ertedb ack to  St Peter sb u rg in1 991, fo l l ow ingthe collapse of t h eS oviet Union.
Indiaal s or e nam edseveral ci ti es lo n g befor e  t h e BJP took power. I n 1995, itr est ored t he  na m es ofthe c it i esof Bombay,Bang alore, an d Calc u tta tot heir in digeno usver sion s  –  M umb ai ,  Be n ga lur u , a nd Kolka ta  r espec tive l y –  toemp hasi ze it s independenc e f romB rit ain a nd re ject  t he li nguist ic sy mb ols left over f romthe colon ial  e ra.  T he na m es ofthe  ci ties Ca wnporea ndJu b b l ep ore were also chan ge d to  Kanpurand Ja b al pu r  to refl ec t n ativ e spell inga nd  pronunc iation . 
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Al th oug h r enami n g ha s been  practis ed wi d ely across the world, in man y  c a s es it h asbeen social ly a n d po liti c al lyc ontro versi al .  T h is is because renam in g is a  lotmore than sim ply changi n g a word o n am ap or a street si gn. P lace names are an i mport ant elem ent of ac o untry’scul tur allan d s ca pe, as they n a t ural ly  docume ntand ref lec t a  lo cal it y’s herit age andid en ti ty . C hangi n g them i soft en  se en as a re-w ritin g of  h is t ory . Renam i ng , ther ef or e, i s a lw ays a  hot l y d ebatedissue.

R ena m ingof  a  placeappears a lot  m ore accept ab leto the l ocal pop ulation when it is done to eras e r emain ingsymbols o f c olonia lis m . Howe ver, w hen i tisd o ne so l e ly  to  p rivilege o n e  of  thema ny a vailabl e readings of a pl a ce’ s history and  id enti t y ,itb ec o mes  a div i s ive force, help ing to acc en t ua te politic a l,so cial an d histo ric d i visions  within a  communit y. 

Er a s ing  India’s M uslim he ritage

T h e sup p or tersofthe re na min g ofthe Au r ang zeb R oad in  N ew Del hi ar gu ed thatthe Mughal emperor wasan inv aderand  a cruelrul e r,who doesnotdeserve to  be  co mmemo rat e d inmode r nInd i a.

T he r e al reason i ng  be h i nd  their oppo s i t ion  to t her oad’sname , however, went a lot deeper tha n Au r a ngz eb’ s  con du ct. The RSS an d t he B JP perce iv e not onlyAurangze b’ s  rule  but t he ent irety o f th e  medie valMus lim era,asad ark pha se  i n  the c ount ry ’s his tory.I n 20 1 4 , Prime Minister  Nare n d ra Mo d i s aid I nd ia is t r oubl ed by “120 0 years ofslavement ality “. He w as  clear lylu mping toge t her the 2 00 ye ars ofBr itis h c olonia l ru l e  andthepr ece ding medi e v al Mu sl i m e ra
 of_World War_I because authorities thought_its original_name_sounded too_German._In 1924, following_the formation of_the USSR and the_death of Lenin,_the_name of the city was changed once again, this time to Leningrad. The city’s_name_was reverted_back_to_St Petersburg in 1991, following_the collapse of the Soviet_Union.

India also_renamed several cities long before the BJP took_power._In 1995, it_restored the names of the cities of Bombay, Bangalore,_and Calcutta to their indigenous versions_– Mumbai, Bengaluru,_and_Kolkata_respectively – to emphasize_its independence from Britain and reject_the linguistic symbols left over from_the colonial era. The names of the_cities Cawnpore and Jubblepore were also_changed to Kanpur and Jabalpur_to reflect_native spelling and pronunciation.

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Although renaming_has been practised_widely across_the world, in_many cases it has been socially_and politically controversial._This is because renaming is a_lot_more than simply_changing_a_word on_a map or_a_street sign._Place_names are an important element of_a_country’s cultural landscape, as they naturally document_and reflect a locality’s_heritage_and identity. Changing them_is often seen as a_re-writing of history. Renaming, therefore, is_always a_hotly debated_issue.

Renaming of a place appears a lot more acceptable to the_local population when it is done_to erase remaining symbols_of colonialism._However,_when it is_done_solely to_privilege one of the many available readings_of a_place’s history and identity, it becomes_a divisive force, helping_to_accentuate political, social and historic divisions_within a community.

Erasing India’s Muslim heritage

The_supporters of the renaming of_the_Aurangzeb_Road in New Delhi argued_that the Mughal emperor was an_invader and a_cruel ruler, who does not deserve to_be_commemorated in modern India.

The real reasoning_behind_their opposition to the road’s name,_however,_went_a lot deeper than Aurangzeb’s_conduct. The RSS and the BJP_perceive not only Aurangzeb’s rule but the entirety of_the medieval Muslim_era, as a dark phase_in_the_country’s history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India_is troubled_by “1200 years_of slave mentality“. He was clearly lumping together the 200_years of British colonial rule and the_preceding medieval Muslim era