RENAMING FRENZY DIVIDING PEOPLE, ERODING BRAND VALUE

THERE'S a furious debate raging on whether 'India' or 'Bharat', and the right wing government is signaling there will be more of it as it wants to "dismantle the trappings of colonialism". The Opposition rightly smells a rat as they figure it is to counter their recently christened alliance I.N.D.I.A. 

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The renaming business is not new. It's been on since Independence. Every now and then there is a frenzy of renaming roads, cities and institutions. In fact renaming is a busy pastime on the international canvas as well. The most recent is 'Turkey' renaming itself Turkiye' as it didn't want to mixed up with a bird popular on the US dinner menu at the time of Christmas and Thanksgiving!

On a more serious note, there is nothing wrong with getting rid of names that are symbols of subjugation. Soon after Independence, the central avenues in Delhi named 'Kingsway' after King George V and 'Queensway' after Queen Mary became Rajpath and Janpath. The timing was right as the physical vestiges of the British monarchy needed to be removed. But how far back in history do we go? Where do you stop?

Last September, Rajpath was rechristened again as 'Kartavya Path'. Union minister of state for external affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, justified the move saying "...after 75 years of independence, it is felt that the name of Rajpath needs to be changed, in tune with the values and principles of democracy." This is vague and unconvincing. Rajpath is a stately name and has nothing to do with colonialism. Targeting Muslim symbols

Targeting Muslim symbols

It is now 75years after Independence, and the symbolism of 'colonial' names has long expired. Yet the renaming game if anything has gathered force. It is no secret. The frenzy is mainly directed against Muslim names.