Uttar Pradesh Town Renamed Parashurampuri
The Uttar Pradesh government has renamed the town of Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur district as Parashurampuri, officials confirmed on Monday. The decision was taken by the state cabinet and is effective immediately.
Origin of the Name Jalalabad
The name Jalalabad is believed to have originated from the first letter of Mughal emperor Akbar's name, 'Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar'. The town was established during the Mughal period and had retained the name for centuries.
Part of Broader Renaming Drive
This is the latest in a series of name changes in Uttar Pradesh under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Earlier, the state renamed Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya, and Mughalsarai to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar. The government has justified these changes as efforts to shed colonial and Mughal legacies and restore indigenous names.
Reactions and Criticism
Local BJP leaders welcomed the move, calling it a correction of historical wrongs. However, opposition parties criticized the government for focusing on symbolism rather than development. Samajwadi Party spokesperson said, "Instead of changing names, the government should address unemployment and inflation."
According to a government spokesperson, the renaming was based on a proposal from local residents and was approved after due process. The new name Parashurampuri refers to the Hindu sage Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu.
