Delhi's Historical Identity and the Proposal to Rename it Indraprastha
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal has proposed renaming Delhi as Indraprastha, linking the city to its ancient Mahabharata-era roots as the Pandavas' capital. He also suggested renaming key infrastructure and erecting statues of the Pandavas. However, historians caution against the renaming, emphasizing Delhi's layered history and warning of erasing its diverse past.
The article discusses BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal's recent demand to rename India's capital Delhi as Indraprastha, the legendary city founded by the Pandava king Yudhishthir from the Mahabharata. Khandelwal has also proposed renaming Old Delhi Railway Station to Indraprastha Junction and the Indira Gandhi International Airport to Indraprastha Airport, alongside erecting statues of the Pandavas to revive historical and cultural identity. The piece then explores Delhi's complex historical origins, including the 7-metre iron pillar from the Gupta era and the city's ancient names like Dhillika or Dhillika, linked to the Tomara dynasty and historical inscriptions. It highlights archaeological finds at Purana Qila supporting ancient habitation but notes a lack of conclusive evidence tying the site directly to Indraprastha. Historian Alexander Cunningham's work shows Indraprastha and Delhi as distinct but closely located cities, with Delhi evolving through multiple empires and linguistic influences leading to the name 'Delhi.' The article presents scholarly concerns that renaming might oversimplify or erase the city's multi-layered heritage and warns against politicizing its identity. Ultimately, it frames Delhi as a city of continuous reinvention blending myth and history over centuries, making the renaming proposal a matter of historical interpretation, cultural belief, and political debate.
