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| What is there in a name? | | | Omkar Dattatray | 11/14/2018 7:46:32 PM |
| | What is there in a name as a rose smells the same if called by any other name is a stark reality and has universal applicability as naming and renaming a city, town, bridge, highway et al will not make and does not make any difference as the ground reality remains the same in spite of renaming things, cities etc. It is indeed very unfortunate that renaming of cities takes place at a time when the five state assembly elections are taking place and also just before the commencement of general elections. It is only a ploy to attract votes in the murkier field of politics and thus renaming exercises are aimed at vote bank politics. But more than vote bank politics, the renaming of cities and other places has communal overtures behind it and it may lead to a sense of insecurity among the minorities of the county and therefore it should not be resorted to for the sake of the nation and its diverse and composite cultural legacy dating back to 5000 years. The naming of cities and towns is in fact an attack on the plural and secular ethos of the country. The name changing spree will spread like a disease to various parts of the country and it has serious ramifications for the unity and integrity of the so diverse a country - India. It is only a communal polarization and aimed at the appeasement of the gullible majority community at the time of elections and this should be avoided for the good of the country and its composite Ganga-Jammni tehzeeb and mutual tolerance and brotherhood which is badly required in the country and more so at the time of elections to give a sense of security to the countrymen particularly the minorities. In fact, changing the names or renaming cities and other places has the communal overtures in it and is nothing beyond communal polarization just before the crucial elections to five Indian state assemblies and the upcoming general elections. Yogi Adyathinath, the CM of UP has raised the expectations of the innocent people of UP in particular and the country in general by saying that the people will be gifted with something historical at the eve of Diwali and then he gave the declaration to the effect that the name of Faizabad city will be renamed as Ayodhya in consonance with the indigenous meaning of the word and in accordance with the historical significance of the name Ayodhya. Further, the CM has said vaguely that there was, is and will be a Ram temple in Ayodhya without specifying any timeline or date. It is just to hoodwink the gullible voters and arose their passions, sentiments and emotions and polarizes the sensitive atmosphere just before the elections. Now only this, Yogi has also renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj an indigenous name as per the religious significance of the city. Only naming and renaming places and towns will not make any difference to the people until and unless basic services and facilities are not overhauled and new shape given to the culturally and religiously important cities. The big religious festival and congregation of Maha Kumb which now has got UN recognition also, is held at Allahabad after 12 years as the city hosts this important festival in consonance with the spirit of tolerance and mutual brotherhood in spite of the fact that the city is called the Allahabad, a name given by the Mughals. By renaming city as Prayagraj, it hardly matters to the common man who is interested in bear needs of the existence and is struggling to have two square meals a day. Naming and renaming does hardly serve any purpose for the commoner, who is interested in bread and butter and wants other basic civic amenities. There is no sign of the slogan of development for all in the name changing spree. Not in the UP alone, but now the BJP CM of Gujarat Vijay Rupani is also contemplating to change the name of well established city Ahmadabad that too just before the elections in the country. This he contemplated only after the renaming of Allahabad as Praygraj by his UP counterpart. It is ironic that such renaming of the city of Allahabad has got muted protests from secularists and the minorities. This name changing spree is nothing but is stark communal polarization which has the potential of disturbing communal amity and it is so good that till now there has been a muted response to the renaming of Allahabad. Now, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra is demanding re-christening of the Arunagabad and Fasialabad to give these cities the indigenous names and this is done to raise the communal passions before the general elections. The purpose is to divide the society before elections and to cultivate much need votes. The naming and renaming exercises will open Pandora's Box and various states and their CMs particularly the saffron ruled states will go on renaming places and it will vitiate the communal brotherhood and amity in the country and that should not be allowed at any cost that too for mere vote bank politics. The Safforn Clad saint and CM Yogi Adithyanath, is doing no good service either to Hinduism or his professed Hindutva philosophy by renaming Allahabad and Faizabad as Prayagraj and Ayodhya respectively. Sanatan Dharma does not require mortal stretches to stand upon and make it strong because vedic dharma is very strong and it has the inbuilt strength to absorb the resistance and shocks from within and without and come victorious. This is amply testified and proved by the history. Therefore, Hindutva or HIndusim does not require re-christening of names of some cities and places of religious significance. Thus, renaming of cities does not serve any purpose rather it has the potential of damaging communal amity in the country. Therefore, there should be halt to such renaming exercises for the interest of the secular and plural democracy of the country. Instead the powers and political parties should concentrate on the much needed basic necessities of the people which matter and which have bearing upon the life of the people. Thus, there is no need and necessity of changing the names of places and renaming them except the raising of communal passions. So for the sake of plural ethos and secularism nothing should be done which has the impending effect of vitiating communal brotherhood in our diverse society where diversity is a hallmark of our all inclusive social fabric. Therefore, instead of changing names of cities, places, bridges et al efforts should be done to uplift the condition of the city dwellers and give the cities a modern look but keeping the cultural and religious significance intact. This will be a great service to the cause of secularism and cultural diversity of the nation. Communal polarization and dividing people on the basis of religion and faith is alien to the Indian culture and should not be resorted to under any circumstance least for vote bank and selfish considerations. Enough is enough. Now the people should rise to the occasion and give a befitting reply to the forces and political parties who are habitual of engaging in communal polarization and dividing society on the basis of religion and faith by the all powerful battle of ballot and not take recourse to street fights. Back to renaming of cities, it is so good that the politicians and rulers should take steps to give good facilities to the people residing in the cities whose names you are going to change or changing. It hardly matters whether Banaras is called Varanasi or Kashi and whether Delhi is Delhi or Inderprastha, the renaming hardly will alter the geographical, historical and cultural, religious significance of a place. The renaming of cities is nothing but can appropriately be called 'a game of name politics' which has no takers in India except fringe elements. And therefore the caption what is there in a name. |
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