Recently, the Indian state of Maharashtra has renamed two of its cities – Aurangabad and Osmanabad. The decision to rename these cities has been made with the aim of acknowledging local culture and history and removing colonial-era names. In this article, we will discuss the renaming of these two cities and its significance.
Renaming of Aurangabad
Renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Aurangabad, which was named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, has been renamed as Chhatrapti Sambhajinagar. The new name has been given after the second ruler of the Maratha state established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Sambhaji was the son of Shivaji Maharaj and had played a crucial role in expanding the Maratha kingdom. He was also the first Maratha ruler to be crowned as the Chhatrapati. The renaming of Aurangabad has been a long-standing demand of the Maratha community in Maharashtra.
The decision to rename Aurangabad has been welcomed by the Maratha community, who have hailed it as a tribute to the Maratha king and his legacy. The move has also been criticised by some political parties, who have accused the Maharashtra government of indulging in vote bank politics.
Renaming of Osmanabad
Renaming of Osmanabad to Dharashiv The city of Osmanabad, which was previously named after a 20th-century ruler of Hyderabad, has been renamed as Dharashiv after a local deity. The decision to rename Osmanabad has been made with the aim of acknowledging the local culture and history of the region. The new name is said to be inspired by the Dharashiv caves, which are located near Osmanabad and are believed to be associated with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata.
The renaming of Osmanabad has been welcomed by the local community, who have hailed it as a step towards acknowledging the local culture and history of the region. The move has also been criticised by some political parties, who have accused the Maharashtra government of indulging in vote bank politics.
Significance of the renaming
The renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad is significant in the context of the ongoing debate about the renaming of cities in India. The renaming of cities has been a contentious issue in India, with political parties and communities demanding the renaming of cities to acknowledge their local culture and history. The renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad can be seen as a step towards acknowledging the local culture and history of these regions.