India is one of the oldest civilisations in the world with a rich and varied cultural heritage. The recent bid to rename place names is set to sully the image of the country. Renaming is not an issue but if it is based on religious grounds it is reprehensive. The zeal with which the process is carried out suggest that the greatest issue facing the country is the continuance of old place names rather than myriad socio-economic issues plaguing all of us.

The central government has given the consent to rename several places in our country and many renaming proposals are being made by several quarters. Already, Allahabad has been renamed Prayagraj and Faizabad to Ayodhya by the Yogi Adithyanath government in Uttar Pradesh.The list of place names to be changed is long and they include towns and cities. The right-wing outfits seem to be hell-bent on this matter and the friendly BJP governments are encouraging their bids.

The renaming process is a lengthy process as multiple authorities from the local civic body to state or central government are involved. The authorities should address pressing issues that makes the lives of citizens comfortable and safer rather than concentrating on unimportant matters.