A fresh call to rewrite Delhi’s identity has emerged from BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, who penned a detailed letter to Amit Shah advocating for renaming the capital Indraprastha. This isn’t mere nostalgia—it’s a meticulously argued plea grounded in archaeology, literature, and national ethos.
From the Mahabharata’s vivid accounts of a opulent city built by the Pandavas, to Purana Qila’s excavations yielding 3,000-year-old relics like Painted Grey Ware, evidence mounts that Delhi is indeed ancient Indraprastha. Khandelwal stresses this connection to affirm India’s ancient civilizational stature.
Envisioning public monuments of the Pandavas at key sites, the MP wants to embed this history into everyday life. He’s also mobilized local action by writing to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for an assembly-backed resolution.
Precedents abound: cities across India have shed colonial or later monikers for their historic ones, boosting cultural resurgence. Khandelwal urges Shah to convene specialists for a formal review, framing the change as essential for preserving India’s narrative amid global influences.
As the proposal gains traction, it invites reflection on how names shape collective memory. Will Delhi embrace its Pandava legacy, or cling to the status quo? The coming months could herald a historic shift.