Shimla’s name may be changed to Shyamala

The Himachal Pradesh government is considering renaming state capital Shimla to Shyamala, following a demand made by right-wing Hindu groups as part of efforts to remove “symbols of British rule” .

“Before the British arrived, Shimla was known as Shyamala. My government will seek public opinion on the demand for its renaming,” chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on the sideline of Dussehra festivities at Jakhu temple Friday evening.

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

State health minister Vipin Parmar said that “there was no harm” in changing the name of Shimla, the summer capital of India under the British from 1864 to Independence, and landmarks associated with the British.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had long demanded the government change the town’s name. However, in 2016, then chief minister Virbhadra Singh had rejected renaming Shimla.

“Sticking to names given by oppressors is sign of mental slavery. Changing names of town is a small but significant step,” VHP state president Aman Puri said.

The Congress however ridiculed plans to change Shimla’s name. “Instead of changing name of the town, the government should focus on resolving the problems in the town as well as in the state,” said Congress state general secretary and chief spokesman Naresh Chauhan.

SHIMLA: