After the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime MinisterNarendra Modiapproved the proposal for the alteration of the name of the state of ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’, another request has emerged, this time for the national capital. Reviving the old chorus, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the renaming of Delhi as "Indraprastha" and highlighting its origins as the capital of the Pandavas in Mahabharata.
"Historical literature, archaeological findings, and long-standing civilisational 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. The epic describes Indraprastha as a magnificent city built on the banks of the Yamuna River, precisely matching the geographical setting of modern Delhi," Khandelwal said.
"...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 civilizational 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..." read the letter.
He also cited how archaeological excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at Purana Qila have revealed ancient settlement layers dating back to around 1000 BCE, along with Painted Grey Ware pottery associated with the Mahabharata era. "These findings strongly support the historical belief that the ancient city of Indraprastha once flourished at the site where Delhi stands today," he remarked, asserting that the name 'Delhi' emerged during a much later historical phase.
"Scholars believe the name evolved from medieval references such as Dhillika or Dehli, associated with ruling dynasties of the early medieval period. While these phases are part of the city’s history, they do not represent its earliest identity or civilizational origin. As such, the name “Delhi” reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city," he said.
The MP argued that given how the name Indraprastha is already deeply embedded in the civic life of the capital through various institutions, renaming Delhi would be a historic step toward restoring its civilisational identity.
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