Aurangabad Railway Station renamed as part of erasing Muslim legacy
Historians, locals say move part of BJP’s larger effort to rewrite India’s past
New Delhi: The Maharashtra government’s decision to rename Aurangabad Railway Station — founded by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1900 — as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Railway Station has drawn sharp criticism from historians, citizens, and rights activists who say the move is another attempt to erase Muslim contributions from India’s history.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the century-old station, built during the Nizam era, reflected Indo-Islamic architecture and played a vital role in connecting the Deccan region. A government order said the new name and station code “CPSN” will be used in all railway communication and signage.
Historians said the renaming distorts India’s composite culture. “It’s not just a change of name but a change of narrative,” said historian Abdul Qadir. “They want to erase traces of Muslim heritage that shaped this nation.”
Aurangabad, founded in the 17th century by Mughal Governor Malik Ambar, has long symbolized India’s plural identity. During the Nizam era, it became a key trade and rail hub. Critics say the BJP and its allies are using such symbolic acts to polarize voters ahead of elections, pointing to earlier renamings such as Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad to Ayodhya.
Locals lamented the erasure of shared heritage. “Aurangabad is our identity and our history,” said Rizwan Shaikh, a resident. “You can rename the city, but you cannot rewrite its soul.”
Observers warn the move reflects a broader campaign to redefine India’s historical landscape along communal lines — one that risks undermining the nation’s centuries-old spirit of coexistence.
