New Delhi, 25 February (H.S.): BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urging the renaming of Delhi to Indraprastha. In his letter on Wednesday, he argued that as one of the world's oldest living civilizations, India's national capital must reflect its profound historical and cultural heritage.

Khandelwal emphasized that historical literature, archaeological evidence, and longstanding civilizational traditions confirm modern Delhi as the site of ancient Indraprastha—the magnificent capital founded by the Pandavas, as described in the Mahabharata epic.

The epic portrays Indraprastha as a prosperous city on the Yamuna River banks, perfectly aligning with Delhi's geography. He cited excavations at Purana Qila by the Archaeological Survey of India, uncovering settlements from around 1000 BCE, including Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture remnants linked to the Mahabharata era, bolstering this historical claim.

He noted that 'Delhi' emerged in later medieval times, associated by historians with Dhillika or Dehli, but fails to represent the city's primordial civilizational identity. Renaming it Indraprastha would restore ties to India's ancient legacy and reinforce cultural continuity.

Khandelwal highlighted precedents like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Prayagraj, and pointed out Indraprastha's existing use in Delhi's institutions, indicating societal acceptance. He urged Shah to initiate formal processes with historians, archaeologists, and experts, and requested Gupta to pass a resolution in the Delhi Assembly.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar