After Kerala, Demand Raised to Rename Delhi as ‘Indraprastha’

In a significant development, the Central Government has approved the proposal to officially change the name of the southern state Kerala to ‘Keralam.’ The proposal was sent by the Kerala state government after the state assembly unanimously passed a resolution in 2024.

The move aims to align the official name with Malayalam pronunciation and the state’s cultural identity. Following the Union Cabinet’s approval, the proposal will now be tabled in Parliament, and further procedures will be carried out under the Kerala (Renaming) Bill, 2026, after the President’s assent.

‘Kerala’ is often associated with the meaning “land of coconuts,” while ‘Keralam’ is the traditional Malayalam name used locally. The change is being viewed as official recognition of the state’s linguistic and cultural heritage. However, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticised the decision, stating that greater focus should be placed on development projects rather than renaming initiatives.

Demand to Rename Delhi as ‘Indraprastha’

Following this decision, another major demand has surfaced. BJP Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal, who represents Chandni Chowk, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting that the national capital Delhi be renamed ‘Indraprastha.’

According to Khandelwal, the name ‘Delhi’ is associated with the medieval and colonial periods, whereas ‘Indraprastha’ traces back to the Mahabharata era and is believed to be the capital established by the Pandavas. He also claimed that excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India, particularly near Purana Qila, have revealed evidence linked to ancient Indraprastha.

He argued that restoring the name would strengthen India’s civilisational identity and cultural heritage.

Historical Context

Historically, Delhi has been known by various names, including Dillika, Dehli, Tughlaqabad, Shahjahanabad, and New Delhi. Since Independence, the city has officially been known as Delhi.

In recent decades, several Indian cities have undergone name changes — for example, Calcutta to Kolkata, Allahabad to Prayagraj, Madras to Chennai, and Bombay to Mumbai.

Whether Delhi will also witness a similar renaming in the future remains to be seen.