The demand to rename Delhi as Indraprastha has recently been revived by BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, who wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 31, urging the renaming of India’s capital to reflect its ancient roots tied to the Pandavas and the Mahabharata era.
Khandelwal proposed changing the names of key city landmarks as well, such as Old Delhi Railway Station to Indraprastha Junction and the Indira Gandhi International Airport to Indraprastha Airport.
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So, how did Delhi get its name? And what is the link with Indraprastha, and the Mahabharata?
THE MUTE WITNESS
In the shadow of Qutub Minar in Mehrauli stands a lonely iron pillar. It is an unwavering witness to the evolution of a city that defined several empires.
The pillar came to Mehrauli much before Delhi was Delhi, Dhilli or Dhillika. It marked its territory before the Mughals, before the Sultans, even before the legend of Prithviraj Chauhan.
To understand Delhi, it is important to understand the journey of this pillar.
This 7-metre iron corrosion-resistant monolith, a marvel of metallurgy, was hammered into existence in the age of the Guptas—over 1,600 years ago. But it is not just memory.
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