 |
|
The recent announcement by the Indian government to rename Port Blair to Shri Vijayapuram marks yet another chapter in the nation's ongoing struggle to redefine its identity in the wake of colonial rule. This act of renaming, intended to rid the country of symbols of slavery, serves as a stark reminder of the power of names and languages in asserting cultural and political dominance. India's history since gaining independence from British rule is riddled with examples of place name changes, reflecting the dynamic interplay between past and present, tradition and modernity.
The process of renaming places across India has been driven by diverse motivations, ranging from purely practical concerns to deeply rooted political agendas. The shift from Calcutta to Kolkata and Orissa to Odisha, while seemingly innocuous, represents a deliberate move to align official English spellings with the vernacular, reclaiming a sense of linguistic sovereignty. Other name changes, however, are far more politically charged. The transformation of Allahabad to Praygraj and Osmanbad to Dharashiv embodies a conscious effort to replace names of Islamic origin with Hindu native names, reflecting a broader struggle for cultural hegemony.
The renaming of Trivandrum to Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin to Kochi underscores the desire to restore a sense of authenticity by shedding the vestiges of anglicization. These changes, while aiming to reclaim a lost linguistic heritage, have also ignited debates about cultural appropriation and the delicate balance between preserving tradition and embracing modernity. The complex process of renaming requires navigating intricate bureaucratic procedures, involving multiple levels of government approval. The final decision ultimately rests with the Government of India, although the process remains open to legal challenges in the courts. The debate surrounding name changes in India continues to be a powerful symbol of the country's struggle to reconcile its colonial past with its aspirations for a new, self-defined future.
Source: Port Blair to Calcutta: Indian cities renamed after independence