Odisha Activists Renew Push to Officially Rename Berhampur as Brahmapur
The Odisha government's recent proposal to restore the original Odia names of 24 places and ensure accurate English transliteration has sparked a renewed campaign by literary activists. They are demanding that the southern city of Berhampur be officially renamed Brahmapur, arguing that this correction is long overdue and aligns with the state's cultural heritage.
A Colonial-Era Distortion
Activists assert that the current name "Berhampur" is a colonial-era distortion of the city's original name, "Brahmapur." They point out that British rulers allegedly altered the spelling because they struggled to pronounce it correctly. This change, they claim, has persisted for decades, creating inconsistencies across official records.
Literary activist Sagar Ranjan Tripathy emphasized, "The British could not pronounce Brahmapur properly and used Berhampur instead. With the state now restoring original Odia names, it is the perfect opportunity to rectify this historical anomaly."
Inconsistent Spellings Across Authorities
The confusion surrounding the city's name is evident in various government and institutional records. For instance:
- Indian Railways officially uses "Brahmapur" for its station.
- India Post spells it as "Berhampur" on postal addresses.
- The local civic body is named "Brahmapur Municipal Corporation," yet several state government departments continue to refer to it as "Berhampur."
- Even the local cooperative bank is inconsistently labeled as "Berhampore Cooperative Central Bank, Brahmapur."
This lack of uniformity highlights the need for a standardized official name, according to activists.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Subrat Kumar Sahu, vice-president of Utkal Sammilani, noted that his organization has previously urged the government to change the city's name to Brahmapur. He stressed that this change would honor the city's historical and cultural roots, aligning with the broader movement that saw the state's name change from Orissa to Odisha and the language from Oriya to Odia about 15 years ago through central legislation.
Local historian P Venugopal Rao, author of ‘City of Brahma’, provided additional context. He suggested that the British might have modified the spelling to avoid postal confusion with similarly named towns, such as Berhampore in West Bengal and Brahampur in Punjab. However, activists argue that this historical justification no longer holds weight in modern times.
Call for Inclusion in Renaming Initiative
Activists are now urging the Odisha government to include Berhampur in its current renaming exercise. They believe that correcting this name is a crucial step in preserving Odia identity and rectifying colonial-era inaccuracies. The move is seen as part of a larger effort to promote linguistic and cultural pride across the state.
As the debate gains momentum, the outcome could set a precedent for how other historically significant names are addressed in Odisha and beyond.
