Bharatiya Janata Party MP Praveen Khandelwal has formally urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to rename Delhi to Indraprastha, citing the capital’s ancient origins in the Mahabharata. In a letter dated November 1, 2025, the Chandni Chowk lawmaker proposed not only rechristening the city but also renaming Old Delhi Railway Station to Indraprastha Junction and Indira Gandhi International Airport to Indraprastha Airport. He further called for installing grand statues of the Pandavas across prominent locations to honour their legacy as founders of the legendary city.

Khandelwal described Delhi’s history as spanning thousands of years and embodying “the soul of Indian civilisation”, rooted in the Pandavas’ establishment of Indraprastha after clearing the Khandava Forest. Archaeological evidence from Purana Qila supports habitation dating back over 2,500 years, with findings from the Painted Grey Ware culture aligning with the epic’s timeline. Historians note that while the Mahabharata blends myth and history, Indraprastha likely represents an early urban settlement on the Yamuna’s banks—one of seven historical cities layered beneath modern Delhi.

The proposal aligns with a recurring demand from BJP affiliates and Hindu organisations to reclaim pre-Islamic heritage. Earlier calls in 2022 and 2025 by groups like the Vishva Hindu Parishad and All India Hindu Mahasabha echoed similar renamings, while Khandelwal himself has previously advocated rebranding local landmarks. Supporters frame the change as a cultural revival and a boost to heritage tourism, emphasising Delhi’s Vedic-era identity amid national efforts to highlight ancient Indian civilisation.

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Critics, however, caution that renaming risks erasing the city’s multicultural evolution—from Dhillu’s Delhi under the Tomaras to Shahjahanabad under the Mughals and New Delhi under the British. Opposition voices argue such moves could deepen communal divides in a diverse metropolis of over 30 million people. No official response from the Home Ministry has been issued yet.

As the letter circulates, it reflects broader ideological currents within the ruling party to reassert historical narratives, even as practical challenges—legal, administrative, and public acceptance—remain significant hurdles to implementation.

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