We need clean water, proper roads and jobs. Changing names won’t feed our families, says a shopkeeper in Haridwar
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI/DEHRADUN – The name-change campaign launched by the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led BJP government in Uttarakhand is drawing growing criticism for what many see as a biased and selective approach. While names of areas associated with Muslim heritage are being swiftly removed and replaced with Hindu figures or nationalist icons, the colonial names left behind by the British remain largely untouched.
This discrepancy has sparked a fierce debate across the state, with politicians, academics, social workers, and common citizens questioning the intent and direction of the renaming exercise. For them, the policy appears less about historical correction and more about targeting a particular community.
Senior journalist Neeraj Kohli raised a pointed question that echoes the public mood: “The BJP shows hate towards Mughals, but clear love for the British. If slavery is really the issue, then why are British names being left untouched?”
On 31st March, the Uttarakhand government officially changed the names of 17 locations spread across four districts – Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar. Most of the old names were either of direct Muslim origin or were perceived to be so due to their linguistic features.
In Haridwar, places like Aurangzebpur became Shivajinagar, Ghaziwala was renamed Aryanagar, and Muhammadpur Jat became Mohanpur Jat. Chandpur is now Jyoti Bai Phule Nagar, and Khanpur was changed to Krisli Ambedkar Nagar. Names like Akbarpur Fazilpur and Afsar Nagar were also replaced with more Hindu-sounding names such as Vijay Nagar and Dev Narayan Nagar respectively.
Dehradun witnessed similar changes. Mianwala was renamed Ramji Villa, Peerwala became Kesari Wala, Chandpur Khurd was renamed Prithvi Raj Nagar, and Abdullahpur was changed to Daksh Nagar. In the districts of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar, Nawabi Road became Atal Marg, and Sultanpur Patti is now Kaushalya Puri.
But as these Muslim-associated names disappear, many are questioning the silence around colonial names that still define the landscape of Uttarakhand. Landmarks like Turner Road, Clement Town, Ashley Hall, Race Course, and other names inherited from British rulers continue to dominate local maps without interference.
Shishpal Gosin, a senior Congress leader in the state, criticised what he described as a clear case of selective amnesia. “We are seeing an open targeting of Muslim names. British names – despite being symbols of colonisation and cruelty – are being protected. It’s not about history. It’s about politics.”
The hill state of Uttarakhand shares a deep and longstanding relationship with British colonial rule. Towns such as Mussoorie and Nainital were established and used as summer retreats by British officers. Nainital even served as the summer capital of the United Provinces. Today, colonial architecture and British-named sites still attract thousands of tourists.
Some of the most famous examples include Mall Road, Company Garden, Gun Hill, Camelback Road, George Everest, Smuggler’s House, Charton Lodge, the Ramsay Area, and Jim Corbett National Park. These sites, in many cases, still celebrate British individuals or families without any visible discomfort from the current government.
In Dehradun, residents of Mianwala protested against the new name Ramji Villa. They claim the name Mianwala has no connection with Islam but is rooted in local Rajput traditions. Following public pressure, the government assured the residents that their concerns would be taken care of.
“This is not a Muslim name at all,” one resident explained. “Mian is a respectful term in north India. Why does the BJP assume every such word is Muslim?”
Some citizens are questioning the practical value of such changes. “We don’t need new names,” said Gulshan, a small shopkeeper in Haridwar. “We need clean water, proper roads, and jobs. Changing names won’t feed our families.”
When asked why colonial-era names remain intact, BJP media in-charge Manveer Chauhan insisted, “This is just the beginning. Names from the British era will also be changed in the future. The chief minister is serious about this.”
However, many remain unconvinced. Critics argue that British names, especially those popular with tourists, are being spared for economic or political convenience.
“The BJP’s actions speak louder than words,” said Neeraj Kohli. “They are using this policy as a tool to push their Hindutva agenda. The names being changed are not random – they are chosen carefully to erase Muslim identity.”
The Congress party, meanwhile, has strongly condemned the renaming campaign. Spokesperson Shishpal Gosin pointed to the BJP’s historical ties with British colonialism, alleging that the party never took part in the freedom movement. “That’s why they’re silent on colonial names,” he said.
Gosin further criticised the lack of a democratic process, noting that no local surveys or public consultations were conducted before making these changes. “In a democracy, you listen to the people. These changes were made from above.”
Political analysts suggest the name-change initiative is part of a broader ideological strategy. By replacing names that reflect India’s Muslim past with Hindu icons, the government is trying to reshape collective memory and rewrite history in line with its ideological worldview.
“They want to tell future generations that only one kind of history matters – the Hindu one,” explained a professor from Delhi University. “This is a dangerous way to deal with the past. If they were really serious about historical justice, they would’ve started with the British names.”
For many Muslims in the state, the name changes feel like an attempt to erase their presence and history. “We are not outsiders. We are citizens of this country,” said Mohammad Iqbal, a retired teacher in Nainital. “Our names, our culture, our past – everything is being erased slowly.”
He pointed out that while names like Aurangzebpur are being replaced, the name Jim Corbett – a British hunter – remains untouched. “They want to keep the names of white colonisers but erase ours. What kind of justice is this?” he asked.
Supporters of the BJP argue that certain British names are associated with tourism and should not be changed hastily. Landmarks like Mall Road and Company Garden are seen as economically beneficial.
But tourism professionals disagree. “You can rename them and still market them well,” said a tourism officer from Mussoorie. “People come for the views and the experience – not the name on the signboard.”
Even among Hindu residents, there is unease over the government’s focus. “What do we gain from this?” asked Raghav, a college student in Dehradun. “History is complex. You can’t just delete one part of it.”
So far, the government has not presented any roadmap for renaming British sites. The focus remains firmly on names with perceived Muslim origins. Whether this approach will evolve or continue remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, a chorus of voices – from political leaders and journalists to ordinary citizens – is demanding fairness and clarity. The message is consistent: historical justice should not be selective.
“Don’t divide us by names,” urged Shazia Begum, a social worker in Haridwar. “Use your power to unite, not erase.”
