Name changing of cities is a staple exercise of our political leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations. These are usually timed when an election is scheduled or is in the works. It is the turn of one more city to be rechristened, as the Haryana Government has decreed that one of its well known cities – Gurgaon is to be renamed as ‘Guru Gaon’. While there is nothing new in such an action, as many other state governments have done so in the past, such changes are always carried out with political motives.
A frivolous exercise
By any stretch of imagination, this is a frivolous exercise, as there are many problems of administering cities that need attention. It is good administration and good governance that are needed, and not such cosmetic exercises as changing names. However, our political leaders appear not to think rationally at times, and name change is one of them.
Change is of course extremely important, as it makes us energetic, daring and perceptive, instead of staying cocooned in words and phrases coined centuries ago. However, change should bring about concrete advantages and should not be done merely for change. Although that famous literary person, William Shakespeare had stated in his play Romeo and Juliet that ‘A rose by any other name will smell as sweet’, I doubt whether the great 17th century bard had such name changes in mind when he had penned this verse!
Our political leaders revel in this type of in fructuous work, merely to gain some brownie points. They apparently do so for two major reasons. These are, firstly, a convoluted thinking that such actions result in electoral gains, and secondly, when they want to divert the attention of the people, so that they get busy in arguing the pros and cons of such decrees.
I wonder whether the people of Gurgaon were asked for their views, for it is after all the inhabitants of the city who know best if the name of their city needs to be changed. Yet, it is leaders sitting in the state capital and their henchmen (read bureaucrats and sycophants) who have decided and issued a firman. May be it is all to do with the highly adverse fallout of the recent Jat agitation. The fact-finding team of the police, headed by the highly respected retired police officer – Prakash Singh – has already submitted its report. According to reports in the media, there are major strictures against the Haryana Government, especially the partisan actions of the Haryana Police.
It is for such political reasons that Madras, Poona, Bombay and Calcutta became Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively. It has been reported that the state of Karnataka has had the maximum name changes of its cities in the last few years, commencing with the state capital, which has become Bengaluru from Bangalore. The list goes on and on!
In the absence of any empirical data, it is difficult to say whether such actions achieved their aims and to what extent, or was it a change only for change’s sake. Such major actions do have one benefit, which is that the leader can then boast that he is not a staid, run-of- the-mill politician, but one who changes the status quo!
Most people feel that it is one more idiosyncrasy of our politicians, as one has not heard of politicians of other countries resorting to such practices. Pakistan is of course an exception, but then Pakistan is not a country but a fiefdom of the Pakistani Army, and hence one can never take it seriously. Their recent name changes of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Northern Areas (in their adverse possession) seem to have been done for reasons that are vague and arbitrary. Since they usually copy what happens in India, that may well be the reason!
The reason for the name change, as stated by the Haryana Government, is that during the era of the epic Mahabharata, the sage Dronacharya had his ashram here and he was the guru of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. It may be a plausible reason for the Hindutva Brigade and sundry others like sants; pseudo god men and women; and of course, those worthies who are headquartered at Nagpur. However, there is apparently no gain for the inhabitants of Gurgaon. Every individual, shop, office and corporate entity will instead lose money in printing new stationary, putting up new signages and so on. The change of signages of state government offices, municipal corporation, other offices of the government and similar entities would cost even more to the exchequer. Is it a worthwhile exercise then?
While the residents of Gurgaon have apparently taken the name change in their stride, some more thought could have been given, so that the inhabitants benefit in some way. I have a suggestion that is perhaps bolder and better.
An alternate suggestion
It is well appreciated by the public, as well as the governments at the state and local bodies’ levels that our burgeoning cities need to be made smaller and more manageable. If this proposition is correct and acceptable, then it would be eminently suitable for the present Gurgaon to be split into two cities, with two different and independent municipal corporations and other services like utilities, better inner roads, lesser vehicular congestion and so on.
We already have two Gurgaons – the old Gurgaon or Gurgawan as it was known earlier, and which has existed for centuries; and the new one, known better as the Millennium City.
The older one is staid and laid back, with inhabitants tracing their histories back to many generations. The new one is all glass, aluminium, chrome, Italian marble and modular kitchens; wide roads, albeit encroached upon, and full of speed-breakers and potholes; and the abode of the nouveau riche. The residents include the progeny of farmers who had sold their lands to known and unknown developers and who are now a menace, especially after sun-down, for the residents.
The old city can continue to be called Gurgaon or with the changed name of Guru Gaon, although in a few years, most people will forget the so-called connection with Sage Dronacharya. The Millennium City could be separated from the present Gurgaon and be given a new name, in consultation with the residents. The government would then be able to make it a new city not just in name, but one which will become a truly well planned and even a ‘smart’ city.
With both cities functioning well, residents of both will have stability and peace. Both cities would become better managed by their respective municipal corporations, and the respective district officials would be able to wield better control over law and order as well as their administration.
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Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi
Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff..[/column]
Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff.