Allahabadis are now Prayagrajis
Now that name of Allahabad ( Uttar Pradesh) has been officially changed, everyone and thing linked with this city needs to be formally associated with its new name. Whether he likes it or not, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is now a Prayagraji. Oh dear, there is nothing wrong with the new name, but it will take time for it to settle down among people in general. It is the one and only Indian city, known as city of Prime Ministers. Seven Prime Ministers have some connection with this city. These include Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Gulzarilal Nanda, Vishwanath Pratap Singh and Chandra Shekhar. The pride linked with the old name — Allahabad — has/ had its own charm.
At the official level, the Uttar Pradesh government is not likely to take long in renaming everything associated with Allahabad as Prayagraj. This includes Allahabad high court and Allahabad University. While Allahabad high court retains some of its old stature, the same cannot be said of Allahabad University, once highly acclaimed as a great educational institution. If the Uttar Pradesh government begins task of replacing the word Allahabad from road/ rail signs and all possible places with Prayagraj, definitely there may be sudden increase in employment opportunities in the state. But this was probably not the key motive behind change of this city’s name.
The change is apparently linked with a misperception about name Allahabad primarily because of its spelling. Yes, split it and the impression is created of spelling being a combination of two words — “Allah” and “abad”. Not surprisingly, the international media has reported this news as change of city’s Islamic/ Muslim name to Prayagraj by “Hindu” extremists. Perhaps, the media is not to be totally blamed. The impression about Allahabad being an Islamic name has prevailed in most circles for quite some time. In fact, politically speaking, this may be considered as root cause behind change of this city’s name. Nevertheless, if this impression had prevailed about Ajmer, it would have been partly acceptable. Only partly, for the city is well- known for its Sufi culture, visited by people of different religions.
Where religion is concerned, Allahabad has been best known as a point of pilgrimage for Hindus at its Kumbh Mela. And shall remain so whatever name the city is called by — Allahabad, Prayagraj or by any other. In essence, religious pilgrimages and other socio- cultural practices linked with this city are not influenced by its name. But, if some believe that change in name adds to and/ or can increase this city’s importance, whether socially, economically, even politically or at any other level, well let them believe so. However, opinion generated by this change cannot be sidelined. Headlines in the international media, as pointed earlier, have focused on “Hindu extremists” having changed the city’s Muslim/ Islamic name.
Of course, it is debatable from several angles as to whether Allahabad can really be regarded as a Muslim name. There prevails the perception that the city was given this name — Allahabad — by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Since, he was a Muslim, it is held that he gave the city this name. It may be noted: Akbar is also remembered for founding Din- iIlahi, bringing together the best of religions practised in his kingdom. He named the city as Ilahabad. Considering Akbar’s religious inclination, holding respect for all religions, it would be wrong to assume that Islamic terminology was the prime reason for his naming the city as Ilahabad. He gave the city name Ilahabad and not Allahabad as is believed.
In Hindi, the name Allahabad is spelled as Ilahabad, beginning with Hindi alphabet E ( Elahabad). It does not begin with A in Hindi. In Hindi, spelling of Allah begins with alphabet A and not E/ I. In other words, Hindi spelling of Allahabad has no religious linkage with Islam. But religious misperception about it is linked with its English spelling. In Urdu and Arabic, spellings of Allah, Allahabad and Ilahabad begin with alphabet alif. When British chose to spell Allahabad, they apparently read alif as A. Centuries later, without giving much importance to Mughal Emperor Akbar’s personal religious inclinations and how Ilahabad became Allahabad, his Muslim identity is held as responsible for this name.
Hopefully, some central law is passed soon, regarding the time period by which the name “Allahabad” should be replaced by “Prayagraj” on passports, Aadhaar cards and other essential documents of lakhs of Indian citizens. Perhaps, it would be more sensible if a law is passed stating that name “Allahabad” will be permitted on already issued documents. Otherwise, lakhs would have to go through tedious task of updating their essential documents, to change the name Allahabad to Prayagraj. Within Allahabad, eh Prayagraj, there are a few famous places with Anglicised names, such as Civil Lines. Change of their names may not be far off.
One of the fruits, this city is most famous for is guava, called amrood in Hindi/ Urdu. I am wondering, how long will it take for Allahabadi amrood to be sold as Prayagraji amrood? Well, just as most Allahabadis will remain Allahabadis, whatever be the name of their city, the guava will retain its old flavour. Change of name doesn’t change everything. Well, politically speaking, hopefully not!
The writer is a senior journalist. She has come out with two books Ayodhya Without the Communal Stamp and Image and Substance: Modi’s First Year in Office