India has witnessed several changes in city and place names throughout the years, as part of endeavours to reclaim cultural and historical identities. Recent instances encompass the transformation from Allahabad to Prayagraj, Gurgaon to Gurugram, and Bangalore to Bengaluru. However, what about the intricacies and expenses associated with such transitions?
Usually, it is the state government (under Articles 2, 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India) that covers the expenses for renaming proposals. However, central agencies such as railways and airports may also have to bear some costs. For example, the Indian Railways spent Rs 2.5 crore in 1995 to modify various platforms from "Bombay" to "Mumbai." Additionally, renaming has an impact on multiple levels, including hyperlocal, district, state, national, and international, which necessitates coordination among both public and private entities.
Both proponents and critics have different perspectives on the matter. Supporters believe that renaming restores cultural integrity instills local pride, and attracts tourism and investment. On the other hand, critics view it as a potentially expensive and divisive exercise that could lead to confusion and may not effectively address essential development issues.
The process of renaming involves various factors such as political, social, economic, and legal aspects. It has an impact on both national and international recognition of a place, therefore it is important to engage in extensive consultation with stakeholders prior to making any decisions.
Renaming a city or state necessitates substantial expenses, typically estimated at around Rs 300 crore, and potentially up to Rs 1000 crore for major cities. Such expenses include modifications to official documents, maps, government records, licenses, signage, and other printed materials.
The renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj in 2018 allegedly incurred a cost of over Rs 300 crore for the Uttar Pradesh government. This alteration has initiated discussions regarding the justification behind such symbolic transformations.
The recent renaming of Aurangabad in Maharashtra might have resulted in expenses of up to ₹1,000 crore, mainly for modifying government documents and communications. Taxpayers' funds have covered these costs.
In light of the recent renaming of Allahabad and Faizabad, there is a proposal to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh. Aligarh, which is situated around 150 km from New Delhi, has seen the approval of this proposal by the Aligarh Municipal Corporation.
Mayor Prashant Singhal politely stated that there has been a long-standing request for this change. He kindly highlighted that the proposal will now be sent to the administration for their thoughtful consideration.
“A proposal was tabled in a meeting to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh. All city councillors unanimously supported this. This proposal will now be forwarded to the administration. I hope the administration takes note of this and accedes to our demand. "Change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh... This demand has been made for a long time..." Singhal told ANI.
#WATCH | Aligarh, UP: On the proposal of changing the name of Aligarh, Prashant Singhal, Mayor of Aligarh, says, "In a meeting yesterday, a proposal was presented to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh. All councillors unanimously supported this. Now, this proposal will be… pic.twitter.com/3V0RlwtGKl— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 7, 2023
It should be mentioned with respect that in 2021, a zila panchayat meeting gave their approval to a proposal of renaming Aligarh as Harigarh, which was then forwarded to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In 2019, Chief Minister Adityanath expressed a willingness to proceed with the renaming initiative throughout the state.
“We did what we thought was good. We have renamed Mughal Sarai as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar, Allahabad as Prayagraj and Faizabad district as Ayodhya district. Where there is a need, the government will take necessary steps,” Yogi Adityanath said then.
In conclusion, the act of renaming cities and places in India is a complex endeavour that holds significant implications. While it seeks to pay homage to cultural heritage, it is essential to carefully consider the associated costs and potential advantages and to prioritize extensive consultations before reaching any conclusions.
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