Contemptuous UP government changes names of poets from Allahabadi to Prayagraj, in menu ‘About Allahabad’!

The contempt of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government in Uttar Pradesh for names with Moghul origin has now extended to the names of eminent personalities of the state.

The contemptuous government has changed the names of eminent Urdu poets Akbar Allahabadi, Tegh Allahabadi and Rashid Allahabadi to Akbar Prayagraj, Tegh Prayagraj and Rashid Prayagraj. These poets had suffixed Allahabadi, as they hailed from Allahabad. The change in their names by the Uttar Pradesh government has been made on the website of the Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission, an autonomous body under the state government.

Under the About Us menu, there is a sub-menu which lands the visitors to a page which gives information on Prayagraj. The BJP government has changed the name of the old city of Allahabad to Prayagraj.

Ironically, the sub-menu which leads to information on Prayagraj, is named About Allahabad. This shows the calibre of the fanatics who wish to change the names and also those in charge of Higher Education in the state.

It will now be a matter of time before some of the Urdu couplets with the mention of Allahabad would also see the change in the name of the city. Here are some couplets that may see the change.

​​​​​​​चलो लाज्मी था मेरा तेरे शहर इलाहाबाद आना,

कुछ सीखा हो या ना सीखा हो पर संभलना जरूर सीख लिया।

(Chalo lajmi tha, mera tere shahar illahabad aanaa,

Kuchh sikhaa ho yaa naa sikhaa ho par sambhalana jarur sikh liya)

It was imperative for me to come to Allahabad, your city,

I may or may not have learnt anything, but surely learnt to be cautious.

सुगन्धित इत्र और इलाहाबादी मित्र

बड़े किस्मत वालों को ही मिलते है।

(sugandhit itr aur illahabad mitr

Bade kismatwalon ko hi milate hai)

Only the very lucky get

The scent of perfume and friends from Allahabad

मजहब की लड़ाई से जो आबाद है,

वो भाईचारे का शहर इलाहबाद है।

(majhab ki ladai se jo aabaad hai,

Bo bhaichare ka shahar illahabad hai)

Inhabited by religious fights

The city of brotherhood is Allahabad)