On a name changing spree, the UP government is likely to change the name of Firozabad city in the state to Chandranagar. In line with the trend of changing the names of towns and cities bearing Muslim names, the Firozabad Municipal Corporation passed a resolution, proposing to change the name of the ‘Glass City of India’ known for its bulk glass production. The proposal has been sent to the Uttar Pradesh government for a final nod.
This is the second such proposal within the last 30 days to be sent to the UP government. On November 8, a resolution of a similar kind was passed by the Aligarh Municipal Corporation to change ‘Aligarh’ to Harigarh.
Kamini Rathore, Mayor of Firozabad, confirmed the development to News18 and claimed the city had been known as Chandranagar since its inception and rule under King Chandrasen. “However, it was during Mughal era, after Mughal military commander Firoz Shah defeated Chandrasen that it was renamed as Firozabad,” said Rathor.
On Friday, the resolution to change the name of Firozabad to Chandranagar was tabled by BJP corporator Sanjay Pandit. The resolution was backed by majority of BJP corporators in the House after which it was passed.
According to historians, the city of Firozabad was initially founded by a ruler named Chandrasen. It used to be the stronghold of the Chauhan Rajputs. In 1566, when Raja Todar Mal, the finance minister of the Mughal empire during the period of Emperor Akbar, was returning from a pilgrimage to Gaya, he stopped at the village of Asafabad, the southeast of modern Firozabad.
The tale goes that the villagers insulted him, and when the Akbar was told about this, he sent Firoz Khawaja to demolish the town and build a new one. The city was then re-built and renamed Firozabad to honour its founder Firoz Khawaja, whose tomb, made of white marble, is established along the road to Agra.
Some locals, however, say the city would continue to hold a special place in their hearts no matter the name. “These are politically driven moves and it hardly matters to us. Firozabad will remain in our heart,” said Pushpendra Shukla, a local from Firozabad.
Some SP leaders and corporators opposed the resolution but in vain.
In 2018, the state government had renamed Faizabad as Ayodhya, and Mughalsarai Railway Station in Chandauli district as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction. A year later, Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj.
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