Following the renaming of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, another city, Aligarh, is set to undergo a name change. The Aligarh Municipal Corporation has unanimously approved a proposal to rename Aligarh as Harigarh. Mayor Prashant Singhal presented the proposal, and it received unanimous support from all the councilors, as reported by ANI.

"In a meeting yesterday, a proposal was presented to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh. All councilors unanimously supported this. Now, this proposal will be sent to the administration. I hope that the administration will take cognizance of this and fulfill our demand to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh...This demand was being raised for a long time," Singhal told ANI.

The proposal will be submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government for approval. If approved, it will contribute to the increasing number of place name changes in the state governed by the BJP. During Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, several name changes have occurred, including renaming Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad district to Ayodhya district, and Mughal Sarai Junction to Pandit Deen Dayal Junction.

This is not the first instance where a request for changing the name of Aligarh has surfaced. A similar initiative was proposed in the late 1970s by the Jan Sangh, the precursor of the BJP. In 2021, the district panchayat of Aligarh adopted a resolution advocating the alteration of Aligarh to Harigarh. Additionally, there was a proposition to name the Aligarh airport in honour of BJP leader and former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.

Before the 18th century, the city of Aligarh was known by the name "Kol" or "Koil." The exact origin of this name is uncertain, as it has been associated with various meanings in ancient texts. "Kol" has been interpreted as denoting a tribe or caste, a place or mountain, and the name of a sage or demon. The city was renamed Aligarh after it was captured by Shia commander Najaf Khan. However, some experts propose an alternative theory, suggesting that Aligarh's name is derived from Hazrat Ali, the last caliph and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, as reported by The Hindu.

The city has a rich history, with the name having evolved over the centuries, and any change to its name carries implications for its identity and heritage. The renaming of cities and landmarks has been a recurring theme in Uttar Pradesh, reflecting shifts in political and cultural narratives over time.

Image source: ABP