By Admin 
BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Delhi and National General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders, Shri Praveen Khandelwal has urged the Central Government to consider changing the name of the national capital Delhi to Indraprastha. He says that such a step will restore the historical and civilizational identity of the Indian capital.
He also suggested that the statues of Pandavas be installed at some suitable place in Delhi, possibly in Purana Qila, so that the ancient cultural and historical identity of Delhi can be revived.
Khandelwal, in a separate letter, has also requested Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to pass a resolution in the Delhi Assembly to rename Delhi as ‘Indraprastha’.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Khandelwal said that India is one of the oldest living civilizations in the world and the name of its national capital should also reflect its deep historical and cultural values.
Khandelwal said historical literature, archaeological evidence and long-standing civilizational traditions establish that present-day Delhi is the site of ancient Indraprastha, the grand capital established by the Pandavas, as described in the epic Mahabharata. In Mahabharata, Indraprastha has been described as a prosperous and grand city situated on the banks of river Yamuna, which completely matches the geographical form of today’s Delhi.
He further said that excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at Purana Qila have found evidence of ancient habitation dating back to around 1000 BC, including remains of the Painted Gray Ware (PGW) culture, dating back to the Mahabharata period. According to him, these discoveries strengthen the historical belief that ancient Indraprastha was located at the same place where Delhi is today.
Khandelwal said that the name ‘Delhi’ came into use in the relatively later medieval period, which historians associate with names like Dhillika or Dehli. But this does not represent its original and ancient civilizational identity.
Indraprastha is a symbol of civilizational identity – MP
He said, ‘Indraprastha symbolizes the original civilizational identity of the capital, while Delhi reflects a later phase of history. Renaming the capital Indraprastha will restore India’s connection with its ancient heritage and strengthen India’s cultural continuity.
Khandelwal also said that the historical names of many cities in India have been restored, with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Prayagraj being prominent examples.
He said that the name Indraprastha is already prevalent in many major institutions and places of Delhi, which makes it clear that this historical name has natural acceptance in the society.
Khandelwal said that renaming Delhi as Indraprastha will be a historic step towards restoring the civilizational identity of India’s capital, which will strengthen national pride and present India’s ancient heritage more effectively to the world.
He urged Home Minister Shri Amit Shah to start a formal process on this proposal after consulting historians, archaeologists and other experts.
Khandelwal said, ‘This step will not only remove a historical anomaly, but will also strengthen our commitment to respect and preserve the heritage of India’s great civilization.’