'There is much in a name': Assam CM invites people's suggestions to change names of places to match culture, traditions

Guwahati, Feb 16: On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma batted for changing the names of places across the state which are contrary to our civilization, culture & derogatory to any caste or community. He announced that several names of places in the state will be changed in line with the culture and traditions of the north-eastern state.

 

 

Taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister said, "THERE'S MUCH IN A NAME. Name of a city, town or village should represent its culture, tradition and civilisation." Sarma informed that a portal will be launched to invite suggestions on change of names across Assam which are "contrary to our civilisation, culture and derogatory to any caste or community".

 

 

Earlier on Tuesday, the Assam Chief Minister while speaking at the Bhoomipujan of the second medical college in Guwahati had said that certain places including Kalaphar and other towns and villages across Assam will be renamed. "There are several names of places in Assam which people do not feel comfortable uttering and are seen derogatory to some communities. Therefore, these need to be changed," he said.

 

Sarma gave an example of Kalapahar, and said, "Kalapahar had destroyed the Kamakhya Temple. I don't see a reason why any town should be named Kalaphar. This name must be removed after due consultation with people."

 

 

In September last year, the Assam Cabinet renamed the Rajiv Gandhi National Park as Orang National Park. This was done after Sarma met the tea tribe community who had requested for the change of the name. Later, the Chief Minister clarified that there was no tradition of naming National Parks after political leaders in Assam, but Congress had broken the tradition in the early 2000s.

 

There have been several such incidents that took place wherein the names of cities/towns have been changes with an aim to recoginse the culture of that particular city/town and named after a historical figure related to it. This has taken place especially in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.