Demand to Rename Delhi as ‘Indraprastha’ Gains Momentum, Airports and Stations Could Follow

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal proposes renaming Delhi as Indraprastha, citing Mahabharata-era heritage. Suggestions include renaming airports, railway stations, and installing Pandava statues, aiming to revive the city’s 5000-year-old Hindu cultural legacy.

New Delhi: The demand to change the name of the capital, Delhi, is gaining momentum again. Recently, BJP MP from Chandni Chowk Praveen Khandelwal wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and proposed that Delhi be named 'Indraprastha' of the Mahabharata period.

According to him, this name is known as the capital established by the Pandavas and is important from a historical and cultural point of view.

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Khandelwal's suggestions

In his letter, Khandelwal did not just limit himself to changing the name of the city, but he also suggested some more important changes:

• The new name of Delhi should be kept as ‘Indraprastha.’
• The name of Old Delhi Railway Station should be changed to ‘Indraprastha Junction.’
• The existing airport of Delhi should be named ‘Indraprastha Airport.’
• Statues of Pandavas should be installed at major places in the city so that the heritage of the Mahabharata period can be preserved.

Historical and cultural basis

Khandelwal said in the letter that according to the Mahabharata, Indraprastha was the capital of the Pandavas around 3000 BC. Citing archaeological evidence, he said it was necessary to remove Mughal-era names to revive the ancient Hindu culture of the city.

He believes that this step will help in bringing the 5000-year-old cultural heritage of Delhi in front of the people.

Previous attempts and opposition

This demand is not at all new. Earlier too, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other organizations had written a letter to the Delhi government recommending changing the names of the airport and other places.

In 2021, Dr. Subramaniam Swamy and Kshatriya Mahasabha had also raised such a demand. However, opposition parties have rejected these initiatives as political stunts.

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The demand to change the name of Delhi to 'Indraprastha' is now in the headlines again. Although it will be a complex process to implement, the proposal is being considered an attempt to revive the capital's identity associated with the Mahabharata and ancient Hindu culture.