After Kerala, will the identity of the capital Delhi change? BJP MP wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding this name

By Samira Vishwas On Feb 25, 2026

BJP MP from Chandni Chowk and National General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Praveen Khandelwal has urged the Central Government to consider changing the name of the national capital Delhi to “Indraprastha”. He said that this step will be important towards restoring the historical and civilizational identity of the Indian capital. According to him, “Indraprastha” is mentioned in ancient Indian texts and is considered a symbol associated with the cultural heritage of the country. Khandelwal argues that the name change will honor the ancient identity of the capital and India’s historical heritage can get a new identity at the global level.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal writes a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the renaming of Delhi as Indraprastha.
“…As such, the name “Delhi” reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city. Restoring the name… pic.twitter.com/meJBqxPS9A
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2026

Praveen Khandelwal also suggested that statues of the Pandavas be installed at some suitable place in Delhi, possibly the Purana Qila, so that the ancient cultural and historical identity of the capital could be revived. He believes that this will bring forward the history related to “Indraprastha” symbolically. Khandelwal, in a separate letter, has also requested Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to pass a resolution in the Delhi Assembly to change the name of the city to “Indraprastha”. He says that such a proposal can be sent as a formal recommendation to the Central Government.

Praveen Khandelwal, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said that India is one of the oldest living civilizations in the world and the name of its national capital Delhi should also reflect its deep historical and cultural values. He argued in his letter that the name of the capital is a symbol associated with the country’s civilizational identity, heritage and traditions, hence consideration should be given to linking it with a name inspired by the ancient history of India like “Indraprastha”.

Praveen Khandelwal said that historical literature, archaeological evidence and civilizational traditions indicate that present-day Delhi is believed to be the site of ancient Indraprastha, which is described in the Mahabharata as the grand capital established by the Pandavas. In the epic, Indraprastha is described as a prosperous and grand city situated on the banks of river Yamuna, the description of which matches the geographical form of today’s Delhi. According to him, these historical and cultural references reflect the ancient identity of the capital.

Praveen Khandelwal said that the excavation conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Purana Qila has found evidence of ancient settlement of about 1000 BC. These are also said to include remains of the Painted Gray Ware (PGW) culture, which is often associated with the Mahabharata period. According to him, these discoveries strengthen the belief that ancient Indraprastha was probably at the same place where Delhi is situated today.

Khandelwal also said that the name “Dilli” came into use in the relatively later medieval period, which historians associate with names like “Dhillika” or “Dehli”. According to him, this name does not fully represent the original and ancient civilizational identity of the capital.

Indraprastha symbol of civilizational identity

Praveen Khandelwal said that “Indraprastha” symbolizes the original civilizational identity of the capital, while the name Delhi reflects a relatively later stage of history. According to him, renaming the capital Indraprastha will restore India’s connection with its ancient heritage and strengthen cultural continuity. He also said that the historical names of many cities in the country have already been restored, with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Prayagraj being prominent examples.

Praveen Khandelwal said that the name “Indraprastha” is already prevalent in many major institutions and places in Delhi, indicating that this historical name has natural acceptance in the society. According to him, naming the capital Indraprastha will be a historic step towards restoring the civilizational identity of India. This will strengthen national pride and India’s ancient heritage can be presented more effectively on the world stage.

Praveen Khandelwal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to initiate a formal process on this proposal after consulting historians, archaeologists and other experts. “This step will not only remove a historical anomaly, but will also strengthen our commitment to honor and preserve the heritage of India’s great civilization,” he said.

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