The political landscape in Telangana ignited a fervent discussion as G Kishan Reddy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit chief in the state, pledged to rename Hyderabad as ‘Bhagyanagar’ should the party ascend to power. Reddy’s assertion aligns with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s earlier statement during a poll rally, generating both anticipation and controversy in the region.
“Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma have already said that once we come to power, we will rename Hyderabad,” expressed Reddy, highlighting the precedent set by renaming cities like Chennai (formerly Madras), Kolkata (previously Calcutta), Mumbai (formerly Bombay), and the transformation of Rajpath into Kartavya Path.
Elucidating the historical context behind the proposed name change, Reddy asserted, “Bhagyanagar is its old name, it was renamed during the Nizam rule. We will name it back to Bhagyanagar when we come to power.” This move, according to Reddy, aims to restore the city’s original nomenclature from the time of the Nizams.
Adityanath, in a separate instance during a rally in Ghoshmahal constituency, reiterated the BJP’s intention to rename Hyderabad, emphasizing the party’s commitment to reinstating ‘Bhagyanagar.’ This isn’t the first time Adityanath has voiced this proposition, having raised the name change pitch earlier during the 2020 Hyderabad civic polls.
The proposed renaming of Hyderabad echoes similar initiatives undertaken by the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh, where cities like Allahabad were renamed Prayagraj and Faizabad became Ayodhya. Moreover, there are ongoing proposals to rename Aligarh as Harigarh, Mainpuri as Mayan Nagar, Firozabad as Chandra Nagar, and Mirzapur as Vidhya Dham.
This proposition to rename Hyderabad has ignited a debate, drawing varied reactions from different quarters within Telangana’s political spectrum. While it has garnered support from some BJP allies, it has also raised concerns and sparked discussions about the socio-political implications of altering the historical nomenclature of a prominent city like Hyderabad.
As the political discourse intensifies in Telangana ahead of potential power shifts, the proposal to rename Hyderabad to ‘Bhagyanagar’ stands as a focal point, reflecting the larger narrative of identity and historical significance in the Indian political landscape.
Sources By Agencies