New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam has written to President Droupadi Murmu against the renaming of the Mughal Gardens, alleging that the move was "arbitrary" and "unfortunate".
On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of independence as "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", the president has given a common name of "Amrit Udyan" to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens, the president's deputy press secretary announced on Saturday.
"The recent decision to rename the Mughal Gardens to Amrit Udyan is an arbitrary and unfortunate decision. The names of places such as these are historical details that illuminate a particular period of our history. The Mughal period is an unerasable part of Indian history," Viswam said in his letter to Murmu.
The announcement on renaming the Mughal Gardens was met with diametrically opposite reactions, with many wondering whether it diluted Delhi's history.
While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the renaming shreds yet another symbol of colonialism, the opposition parties advised the government to focus on creating jobs and controlling inflation instead.
"Being part of an empire, it is true that the Mughal rulers had their positive and negative records. The same is true of Hindu empires.
"Trying to erase the word "Mughal" from history can only be seen as an attempt to rewrite Indian history and redefine nationhood. What is lost in the renaming is an essential component of Delhi's history. It is quite unfortunate that someone as honourable as you were made instrumental for implementing such a communally motivated decision," Viswam wrote to Murmu.
He urged the president to reconsider the decision and consult historians, scholars and academicians regarding the matter.
"I would also like to request that you look into all the possibilities for reversing such a communally motivated decision," the Left leader said. PTI ASG RC