Advocate for replacing foreign names of railway stations, roads, and cities with indigenous ones! – Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
Mumbai: The coalition government of Maharashtra has made a courageous decision to replace the foreign names of eight railway stations in Mumbai with indigenous ones. On behalf of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, we extend our heartfelt congratulations for this initiative! Similarly, numerous railway stations, roads, cities, talukas, villages, and parks bear names influenced by foreign invaders. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti urges the state government to act in renaming these places with indigenous identities.
For many years, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has persistently advocated for the renaming of places associated with foreign entities and aggressors through various platforms such as the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Rashtra Convention’ (now known as the ‘Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav’), ‘Hindu Rashtra-Jagruti Sabha,’ and ‘Hindu Rashtra-Jagruti Andolan.’ Over the past millennium, India has faced numerous invasions by foreign powers like the Mughals, British, Portuguese, French, Dutch, among others, driven by imperial ambitions. As a result, many cities in India underwent changes in nomenclature imposed by these foreign forces. Despite India’s independence as a sovereign nation 75 years ago, the vestiges of colonialism persist in the names of cities, buildings, museums, and roads. Why should India continue to memorialize the names of foreign aggressors who subjected its people to countless atrocities? It is neither justifiable nor appropriate to honor those who inflicted suffering upon Indians. Displaying these remnants of subjugation with pride is misguided. Furthermore, the mismatch between names associated with foreign cultures and the indigenous Indian ethos impacts the cultural fabric of society. It is imperative to provide names that resonate with India’s rich cultural heritage and ethos. Moreover, it is essential for future generations to be cognizant of our glorious history, culture, and valor. Thus, renaming places with names rooted in indigenous and Indian culture becomes crucial for fostering a sense of pride and connection to our heritage.
The state government must expedite the renaming process for the eight railway stations and the corresponding city district. Additionally, foreign names extend beyond railway stations to encompass local roads, parks, and other locales, necessitating their alteration. Moreover, several other places like ‘Churchgate,’ ‘Santacruz,’ ‘Seawoods-Darave,’ as well as locales such as Daulatabad, Aurangpura, Islampur, and Tipu Sultan, have names tied to talukas, villages, towns, roads, parks, and squares. The government should undertake the renaming of all such places without delay.
