HP govt’s move to rename Shimla sparks debate on social media

› Before the British arrived, Shimla was known as Shyamala. My government will seek public opinion on the demand for its renaming. JAI RAM THAKUR, chief minister

SHIMLA : Himachal Pradesh government’s move to rename the state capital from Shimla to Shyamala has triggered debate on social media with people from different walks of life reacting to it.

The demand for changing Shimla’s name gained momentum after the Uttar Pradesh government renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj.

On Friday, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur had said, “Before the British arrived, Shimla was known as Shyamala. My government will seek public opinion on the demand for its renaming.”

However, social media reacted against the move, asking the government to focus on development in the state.

“Hope better sense prevails. Shimla is not a baggage of slavery but an important milestone of history. It had been the summer capital of Britishers. Unlike Mughals, Shimla wasn’t named after Marauding kings or generals! Britishers named Shimla after Shyamala” tweeted Ashok Kapathia, a renowned Ayurveda practitioner and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

Another resident, Rakesh Nagar questioned the government’s move saying, “Will the government change capsicum from Shimla mirch to something else.”

Majority of the residents and social media activists have opposed the government’s move.

“How did the government think of renaming Shimla. The reports of renaming the state capital are disturbing. I will always oppose the move,” a resident, Lokender S Negi said.

RESIDENTS POST JOKES ON FACEBOOK

A group of Shimla residents posted several jokes on Facebook suggesting the government to dissuade from renaming Shimla.

“If possible the government should first rename Dharamshala, it sounds like people are still living in inns,” Ashok Baghoria posted on the Facebook.

Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Kuldeep Rathore said, “Clamour for renaming Shimla as Shymala by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and few other government functionaries is a futile exercise.

Instead of wasting time on such issues the government should focus on development of state and public welfare. Shimla has international significance. Such a foolish and unwarranted move will strongly be opposed by people in the state.”

On Saturday, the VHP submitted a memorandum to Shimla deputy commissioner Amit Kashyap and reiterated its demand for renaming the state capital.

VHP had long demanded the government change the town’s name.

However, in 2016, then chief minister Virbhadra Singh had rejected renaming Shimla, saying it was an internationally famous tourist destination.