Tughlak Lane or Swami Vivekananda Marg? BJP netas change nameplates of Delhi houses | India News

NEW DELHI: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma and Union minister Krishan Pal Gujar have changed the nameplates of their respective Tughlak Lane houses to Swami Vivekananda Marg.
Dinesh Sharma, who performed a housewarming ceremony for his new residence, posted a photo on X with a nameplate on the entrance written Swami Vivekananda Marg.
“Today, along with my family, I performed a housewarming ceremony and formally moved into my new residence on Swami Vivekananda Marg (Tughlak Lane) in New Delhi,” Dinesh Sharma wrote on X.

Last month, BJP’s Mustafabad MLA Mohan Bisht proposed renaming the northeast Delhi constituency, which has a significant minority community population, to “Shiv Vihar” or “Shiv Puri”. Bisht justified the proposal, saying the Hindu population in the constituency was higher. “On one side, there are 58%, and on the other, 42%. It is the right of the 58% that the name should be changed accordingly,” he said.
The changing of names of places, roads, and institutions is part of the ruling BJP’s border ideological agenda to shed the colonial legacies to reflect India’s indigenous heritage.
The party also claims that the move is to honour historical figures, particularly those who contributed significantly in shaping Indian society.
Multiple instances of renaming have taken place under the BJP rule. In 2018, Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj to restore its ancient identity linked to the Hindu pilgrimage site, Prayag. The same year, Mughal Sarai Railway Station was renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction in honour of the BJP ideologue.
In 2018, Faizabad District was renamed Ayodhya to emphasize its religious and cultural significance in Hinduism. In 2021, Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh was renamed Narmadapuram to highlight its connection to the sacred Narmada River while removing Mughal-era influences.
Most recently, in 2023, Maharashtra’s Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad became Dharashiv, shedding Mughal and Islamic references in favour of local historical and cultural identities.

The Tughlak dynasty

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (reigned 1320–1325) was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty and the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. He established the dynasty after overthrowing the Khiljis and is known for his military conquests, administrative reforms, and the construction of Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi.
His rule focused on strengthening the empire’s defense and economy. However, he died in 1325 under mysterious circumstances, allegedly due to a conspiracy by his son, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who succeeded him.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the second ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty and is known for his ambitious but often impractical policies. He attempted several bold reforms, including shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, introducing token currency, and launching costly military campaigns, most of which failed due to poor execution.
His policies led to economic distress, rebellions, and the weakening of the Delhi Sultanate. His reign is often remembered for administrative failures and unrest. He died in 1351 while campaigning in Sindh.