Why Assam to be Asom?

all kannadigas i met (outside) call it baaaynglaur

jang, kannadigas have always used the name bangaluru or something else sounding fairly similar (could some kannadiga confirm that, please?).

at least bombay was always called mumbai by locals and poona pune and calcutta kolkata...and i am not talking of old times but by comtemperory locals. e.g., the local radio broadcaster always said ``akashwani, mumbai kendra``. wtf is chennai and bangaluru..and we must change Dehli to Dilli right away. may be south dilli retain Dehli.

tahmed32, those are good examples of places where people have overcome this problem. Many Americans have no problem identifying with their native American roots, and don`t see their identities at odds with the identities of American Indians or of Spaniard Settlers (although it would be an interesting survey to ask native Americans themselves if they would prefer to ``re-establish`` most old names were they to re-gain power). Similarly, UK too seems to have erased the strong mentality of former (Roman) rulers and ruled, with few Briton now identifying themselves and their heritage as such.

We, however, continue to stay close to separate parts of a common heritage,...so the lasting solution may lie in disabling people`s strong and separate identifications with divisive aspects of history.

The changing/keeping of names everywhere boils down to the visceral issues of identity and identification. In India and Pakistan, a very widespread belief is that Muslims and British were the historical ``conquerers,`` and others (Hindus etc) were the historical ``defeated.`` In that framework, formerly ``defeated`` peoples seek to return the places to ``original`` names once they gain the right to rule over themselves.

How can we get rid of this mindset of the former ``rulers`` and the ``ruled?`` It is as heartbreakingly common as it is probably silly.

One solution could be for people to acknowledge the history. That will make everyone more sensitive to the concerns of others, so a solution could be found in which no one group feels particularly slighted.

Possibly, then we will all behave more ``rationally``.

Re: # 20
Thanks for pointing out. May this activity is sign of ever to be developing countries. Also there is obsession about money loosing national air line, Stell making plant , third grade nations with overactive 5th rate leaders. Problem is no body can oppose this game effectively it as if saying let us pay homage to old gone people. Good night good 2007 Feb.

But this is indeed funny :

[Mr. Yechury, on the other hand, added a third and to him a ‘secular’ name. ``If anything, we propose the name be changed to Leningrad. The great Vladimir Ilyich is now no longer respected in his own country Russia. At the same time his idelogical contributions to the cause of the Indian people is immense.`` ]

I suggest Delhi should be renamed Macacabad

What about Lahore?

#19 not all over the world. in the US, e.g., a large number of states simply retain the American Indian names for the tribes that lived there (Massachussets, Michigan, North and South Dakota, and so on). Older cities named by Spaniards (San Franciso, Los Angeles, St Augustine) retain their names. In the UK, ancient towns named by Romans who ruled over england at the time retain their name (Manchester etc. - in fact all the ``Chesters`` in england from from the Roman Castra, which was the name for a Roman military garrison station.

By changing names in attempts to get cheap popularity with someone, the governments in many developing countries have merely taken away the historical continuity and name recognition associated with these countries.

This fad is all over world. We have new name for major city of Punjab which was name of great Englishman who made good contribution now to pay honors to Late King of KSA. I do not know why writer is so much agitated?

Pune, and Mumbai are correct pronunciations of those cities

its time to change allahabad to prayag, ahmedabad to karnavati, and hyderbad to billgatesnagar

By that extension of removing Jehangir and Sher Shah Suris names then no christian or Muslim or Parsi child should be named so but only appropriately named by majoriy shiv sena ,bjp,communists....

Re: # 5
Bhutan is an independent kingdom. It is occupied by the Bhutanese. -)

Interesting article!

Name changes seem to be quite popular these days, and not only in India. There seems to be a conspiracy all over to make life somewhat more difficult for people settled in their ways. Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka have all changed the names of their cities. Burma and Ceylone even changed the names of their countries. China changed the entire spelling system, making it even more difficult for outsiders to pronounce their names.

But I am surprised that you have credited/blamed the BJP for inventing this ``disease``. Poona was changed into Pune long before the BJP was even formed. I think that this is more of a regional than a religious thing; otherwise the first name changes would have been the street names in Delhi - there seems to be a name for every Mughal/Muslim ruler in the city, including the Aurangzeb Road and none of the several BJP administrations in Delhi have tried to change those names. Indeed, two names from the Muslim era have been added to new streets - Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and the Sher Shah Suri Marg.

City names are not just names but brands too and have inherent association of the character of that city. The name Bombay was a brand as was Calcutta, Madras and Bangalore. Mumbai doesn`t quite reflect character of a vibrant cosmopolitan city. It isn’t the name these politicians change, they slowly kill the spirit of the city.

Re: # 5

Actually all of Indian states have fallen to India`s naked aggression. Are you going to do something about it? Please let us know.