Beneath Delhi’s glittering skyline and ancient ruins lies a city that has reinvented itself countless times. From the Pandavas’ mythical Indraprastha to the Mughal Dilli and the British-built New Delhi, each era has left its mark. Now, a fresh political pitch to rename the national capital as Indraprastha has reopened an age-old debate: which version of Delhi’s past should define its identity?
Why BJP MP Wants Delhi Renamed as Indraprastha
BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging that Delhi be officially renamed Indraprastha to “reconnect the city with its ancient civilisational roots.” Khandelwal’s letter argues that the name change would “restore Delhi’s historical identity,” tracing its origins to the Pandavas’ capital built along the Yamuna thousands of years ago.
He also suggested renaming Old Delhi Railway Station as Indraprastha Junction and Indira Gandhi International Airport as Indraprastha Airport, alongside installing statues of the Pandavas at a prominent city location.
According to Khandelwal, the renaming aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cultural resurgence, which has already seen cities like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Prayagraj reclaim heritage names. “It would be historical justice and a symbol of India’s cultural renaissance,” he stated, adding that the change could boost tourism, trade, and employment in the region.
Copies of his proposal have been sent to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and Tourism & Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Historians Caution Against 'Erasing Layers of History'
Not everyone agrees with the renaming proposal. Prominent historians have warned that such a move risks flattening Delhi’s multi-layered history into a single narrative.
Historian Swapna Liddle, who has written extensively on Delhi’s evolution, noted that while many believe Indraprastha once stood where Delhi stands today, there is no archaeological evidence to confirm it. “The belief is widespread, and some Persian texts do mention a city by that name near Central Vista. But the name Dilli or Dhilli came into use around the 11th century when the city was first fortified,” she explained.
According to Liddle, Delhi’s name has endured through centuries of dynastic, cultural, and political transitions, from the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals to the British Raj and post-Independence India. “To revive a name that hasn’t been in use for so long would erase that layered history and create unnecessary confusion,” she cautioned.
‘Delhi’s Strength Lies in Its Plural Identity,’ Say Experts
For many scholars, Delhi’s identity is not bound to a single civilisation. Historian Salil Mishra described Delhi as a city of “multiple pasts and many beginnings.”
“Delhi’s strength lies in its plurality. The Mughals made it their capital, the British did too, and every phase added to its richness,” Mishra said. “To rename it now is to erase that layered past and construct an alternative image that doesn’t reflect its true spirit.”
Echoing this view, Prof R Mahalakxmi of JNU’s Centre for Historical Studies called the renaming attempt “a misplaced move.” She emphasised that modern Delhi evolved from seven historical epicentres, each representing different political and cultural milestones. “Naming it Indraprastha, which comes purely from mythology, would fail to capture the vastness of Delhi’s evolution,” she said.
A City That Refuses to Be Defined by a Single Name
Delhi has always been more than a capital, it’s a living museum of India’s changing civilisations. From Indraprastha and Mehrauli to Shahjahanabad and New Delhi, every ruler left behind architecture, art, and stories that coexist in the city’s landscape today.
As debates over renaming grow louder, one question remains: can a name ever truly capture Delhi’s timeless complexity? Whether called Dilli, Dehli, or Indraprastha, the city continues to be what it has always been, a bridge between myth and modernity.
Inputs from TOI
Why BJP MP Wants Delhi Renamed as Indraprastha
BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging that Delhi be officially renamed Indraprastha to “reconnect the city with its ancient civilisational roots.” Khandelwal’s letter argues that the name change would “restore Delhi’s historical identity,” tracing its origins to the Pandavas’ capital built along the Yamuna thousands of years ago.
He also suggested renaming Old Delhi Railway Station as Indraprastha Junction and Indira Gandhi International Airport as Indraprastha Airport, alongside installing statues of the Pandavas at a prominent city location.
According to Khandelwal, the renaming aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cultural resurgence, which has already seen cities like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Prayagraj reclaim heritage names. “It would be historical justice and a symbol of India’s cultural renaissance,” he stated, adding that the change could boost tourism, trade, and employment in the region.
Copies of his proposal have been sent to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and Tourism & Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Historians Caution Against 'Erasing Layers of History'
Not everyone agrees with the renaming proposal. Prominent historians have warned that such a move risks flattening Delhi’s multi-layered history into a single narrative.
Historian Swapna Liddle, who has written extensively on Delhi’s evolution, noted that while many believe Indraprastha once stood where Delhi stands today, there is no archaeological evidence to confirm it. “The belief is widespread, and some Persian texts do mention a city by that name near Central Vista. But the name Dilli or Dhilli came into use around the 11th century when the city was first fortified,” she explained.
According to Liddle, Delhi’s name has endured through centuries of dynastic, cultural, and political transitions, from the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals to the British Raj and post-Independence India. “To revive a name that hasn’t been in use for so long would erase that layered history and create unnecessary confusion,” she cautioned.
‘Delhi’s Strength Lies in Its Plural Identity,’ Say Experts
For many scholars, Delhi’s identity is not bound to a single civilisation. Historian Salil Mishra described Delhi as a city of “multiple pasts and many beginnings.”
“Delhi’s strength lies in its plurality. The Mughals made it their capital, the British did too, and every phase added to its richness,” Mishra said. “To rename it now is to erase that layered past and construct an alternative image that doesn’t reflect its true spirit.”
Echoing this view, Prof R Mahalakxmi of JNU’s Centre for Historical Studies called the renaming attempt “a misplaced move.” She emphasised that modern Delhi evolved from seven historical epicentres, each representing different political and cultural milestones. “Naming it Indraprastha, which comes purely from mythology, would fail to capture the vastness of Delhi’s evolution,” she said.
A City That Refuses to Be Defined by a Single Name
Delhi has always been more than a capital, it’s a living museum of India’s changing civilisations. From Indraprastha and Mehrauli to Shahjahanabad and New Delhi, every ruler left behind architecture, art, and stories that coexist in the city’s landscape today.
As debates over renaming grow louder, one question remains: can a name ever truly capture Delhi’s timeless complexity? Whether called Dilli, Dehli, or Indraprastha, the city continues to be what it has always been, a bridge between myth and modernity.
Inputs from TOI
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