The Central Railway officially renames it as Ahilya Nagar, following Maharashtra government’s policy of replacing Muslim-era names with Hindu ones
MUMBAI — In a move that has reignited concerns among the country’s Muslims about the systematic erasure of their heritage, the Central Railway on Tuesday confirmed renaming of Ahmednagar Railway Station in Maharashtra to Ahilya Nagar. Officials said this was done as a tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar, a Hindu queen often referred to as ‘Lok Mata’.
The decision follows the earlier renaming of Ahmednagar district itself to Ahilya Nagar in 2023. In the same year, the Maharashtra government renamed Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv, all names with Muslim roots replaced by Hindu ones.
“This is not just about names; this is about erasing centuries of Muslim history from our soil,” said historian Arshad Qureshi. “Ahmednagar was a centre of Muslim rule and culture. Changing its name is an insult to its legacy.”
Officials said that last week, the Maharashtra government received final approval from the Union Home Ministry to rename the station, after which the Central Railway issued an official release: “The railway station earlier known as Ahmednagar has now been officially renamed as Ahilya Nagar,” the release said.
There will be no change to the station code, which will remain ANG.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had written to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Railways Minister, urging that the railway station name be changed in line with the city’s new name. Several Hindu organisations had been pressuring the government for this change ever since the city was renamed.
Muslim activist Farida Ansari said, “The government listens to every demand from Hindu groups, but when Muslims ask for protection of their heritage, we are ignored. This is one-sided and discriminatory.”
This renaming is part of a wider trend. In March 2023, under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, the Maharashtra government had approved renaming of seven suburban stations in Mumbai, stripping away names rooted in colonial and Muslim history.
Several suburban railway stations in Mumbai have also undergone name changes as part of the Maharashtra government’s renaming drive. The historic Curry Road station has been renamed as Lalbagh Station, while Sandhurst Road has been changed to Dongri Station.
Similarly, Marine Lines is now called Mambadevi Station, and Charni Road has been renamed Girgaon Station. The old Cotton Green station has been given the new name Kalachowki Station, Dockyard has been renamed Majhagaon Station, and Kings Circle has been renamed Tirth Nakar Parshunath Station.
In May 2025, the government also renamed Osmanabad Railway Station as Dharashiv Railway Station.
“These moves show a clear attempt to rewrite history by wiping out Muslim and even colonial references from public spaces,” said political analyst Imtiaz Alam. “It is being done to push the idea that only Hindu figures deserve public honour.”
The renaming spree has left many Muslims in India feeling targeted and alienated.
“Every time a city or station with Muslim roots is renamed, it sends us a message that our contribution means nothing,” said local resident Sajid Sheikh from Ahmednagar. “We are being made invisible in our own country.”
Muslim organisations have urged the government to stop politicising historical names and instead focus on improving public facilities. “Renaming does not improve infrastructure or services,” said community leader Nasreen Khan. “It only deepens divides.”
As the renaming trend continues, many fear that the rich and diverse history of Muslim rule in India is being systematically erased from the public memory.
