Search for roots or a devious image-makeover? Pakistan replaces Muslim names, Bangladesh on opposite track

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 23, 2026

Whether this is a search for roots or a devious attempt for image make-over is not known, but Pakistan , specially its provincial government in Punjab has initiated a bizarre process. As part of this the artificially named Islamic names in Lahore, headquarter of Punjab, are being replaced by their original Hindu, Sikh or Jain names. What comes forth from the process is also a surprise in itself: the ancient city of Lahore is mythologically believed to have been set up by Lav, the elder son of Lord Rama thousands of years ago but this was subtly changed to Lahore after the Arabian invasion and capture of Sindh and expansion of political Islam in that accursed part of the subcontinent in early eighth century. Exactly when that happened and at whose initiative is not known but now a new trend has been set in motion.

The Punjab government headed by Mariyam Nawaj, daughter of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaj Sharif, has initiated the renaming process. As part of this the original name of Krishna Nagar has been restored to the name of Islampura in Lahore. Similarly the Babri Maszid Chak has been renamed as Jain Mandir Chak which was the original name of the locality while the original Sant Nagar name has been restored to the superimposed Sunnat Nagar. The original Hindu name of Dharampur has been restored to the Islamic name of Mustafabad and the original Laxmi Chak has replaced the name of Maulana Zafar Ali Chak. Sir Aga Khan Road been renamed as Davis road which was the original name of the British-made road. Even the road under the ‘holy’ name of Fatima Jinnah, sister of Pakistan founder Md Ali Jinnah, has given way to the original name Queens Road. Many more changes are on cards as the restoration work is reportedly in full swing, although the political context of the renaming process is unclear. But the initiative has sparked outrage among the Islamic fundamentalists who thrive in Pakistani society on Hindu hatred while continuously spewing venom against Hindu dominated India.

But the lowly Bangladeshis have started moving in the reverse direction with the traditional zeal associated with new converts. The semi-literate and uncultured community of Muslim clerics of Bangladesh have started moving in the reverse direction with Islamisation process of names. Comically their first target has been various species of mangoes bearing Hindu names produced in their hellscape. They have already renamed ‘Gopal Bhog Aam’(mango) as ‘Sultani Aam’, the ‘Mohan Bhog Aam’(mango) has been renamed as Ákbari Aam’, the ‘Kali Bhog Aam’ (mango) is now ‘Nurani Aam’ while the ‘Laxman Bhog Aam’ (mango) has got a new name ‘Jalali Aam’. Sources from Bangladesh said that the ‘Jahil’ fundamentalists are preparing for the next stage to replace original Hindu names of institutions across the country. “Their only political is anti-Hinduism and anti-Indianism , so they have to keep the pot of hatred alive and hot and hence this fakery and joke” said sources from Bangladesh.

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