BJP MP seeks Indraprastha name for national Capital
A political debate over historical identity has resurfaced in the national Capital after BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting that the national Capital, Delhi, be renamed Indraprastha, following the Centre’s recent approval to rename Kerala as “Keralam.”
He cited examples of other cities that reclaimed their historical names, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Kashi, arguing that such steps restore historical justice and strengthen national pride.
In a letter to Shah, a day after the Union Cabinet gave its nod to rename Kerala to Keralam, the Lok Sabha MP from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk constituency said that the name Delhi reflects only a later historical phase, whereas Indraprastha connects the city to its ancient civilisational roots.
This is not the first time Khandelwal demanded renaming the national Capital. Vishwa Hindu Parishad also demanded this in the past.
“As such, the name ‘Delhi’ reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city. Restoring the name Indraprastha would therefore reconnect the Capital of modern India with its ancient civilisational foundation. It would symbolise that the seat of the world’s largest democracy stands upon the legacy of one of humanity’s oldest cultural traditions,” Khandelwal wrote.
In Delhi’s case, the most likely rebranding would be to reconcile its local and international names and officially christen it Dilli. Delhi was neither a colonial-era city, such as Bombay — now Mumbai — or Madras — since renamed Chennai — with a strong local political demand to decolonize its name, nor a prominent Hindu site, such as Prayagraj, which subsequently acquired an unambiguous Muslim nomenclature (Allahabad).
The name Delhi is local, old, well-established, and internationally prominent, and it would be difficult to rebrand such a large city without significant economic disruption, say Historians. They argued that Delhi is the most historically sensible and inclusive name for the city.
The name Delhi itself, which is pronounced dilli, is likely to be of local, Indian origin, and may either refer to a local ruler, Raja Dilu, or the fact that the famous Iron Pillar of Delhi is loose (deela in Hindi).
The MP highlighted historical and archaeological evidence linking modern Delhi to the Pandavas’ Capital described in the Mahabharata. “It is also supported by the Archaeological Survey of India’s excavations at Purana Qila. Excavations at Purana Qila have revealed settlement layers dating back to around 1000 BCE, along with artifacts associated with that era, supporting the city’s ancient heritage”, Khandelwal claimed.
“Historical literature, archaeological findings and long-standing civilizational traditions establish that the present-day Delhi corresponds to the ancient city of Indraprastha, the grand Capital established by the Pandavas as described in the epic Mahabharata,” he said in the letter to the Union home minister. The epic describes Indraprastha as a magnificent city built on the banks of the Yamuna River, precisely matching the geographical setting of modern Delhi, he pointed out.
Khandelwal also outlined specific proposals, including renaming Old Delhi Railway Station as “Indraprastha Junction” and Indira Gandhi International Airport as “Indraprastha Airport.” He suggested installing statues of the Pandavas at prominent locations to educate younger generations about the city’s historical and cultural significance. “Delhi holds a very special place among India’s oldest cultural heritages. It is not merely a metropolis, but has been the Centre of Indian civilisation, embodying the traditions of religion, governance, and democracy,” Khandelwal wrote. “Renaming it would reconnect us with our roots and mark the beginning of a new chapter in cultural revival.”
A day earlier, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’.
The move to rename Kerala has sparked a political row, with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee questioning why a similar proposal for her State remains pending.
The Trinamool Congress accused the Centre of “vindictive discrimination,” highlighting that West Bengal has repeatedly requested its renaming to “Bangla” since 2018.
