State govt to launch portal to invite suggestions from public to rename places across Assam: CM

Feb. 16: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” William Shakespeare used this line in his play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to convey that the naming of things is irrelevant. However, centuries later, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma offered a diametrically opposite view when he said, “Here’s much in a name.”

Since the BJP government came in power, the issue of renaming has become a prime matter. Not only the central government, but various BJP-ruled states have devoted themselves to rename places to carry forward their ideology. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has renamed various historic places in his state in the last 5 years.

Following the footsteps of CM Yogi, his counterpart in Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma too has embarked upon a similar concept. Dr Sarma stated, “Name of a city, town or village should represent its culture, tradition and civilisation. We shall launch a portal to invite suggestions on change of names across Assam which are contrary to our civilisation, culture and derogatory to any caste or community.”