Miyawala to Ramjiwala: Uttarakhand CM’s rename pitch runs into opposition from unexpected quarters

The residents claimed that British authors such as G R C Williams, in his 1874 book Memoirs of Dehradun, and H G Walton, in the 1911 book Dehradun Gazetteer, mention Miyawala.

“Miyawala is not just a name, it is a historical heritage that holds the honour and respect of our ancestors and elders. Our identity is tied to Miyawala, and it shall remain so. However, some politically motivated individuals are attempting to change the name of our area, thereby trying to divide our community. We request you to kindly remove any advertisements or posters placed in the Miyawala area that promote the renaming of the region… we humbly request you to ensure that the name of our area remains Miyawala,” it said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Monday announced that 15 places in Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts would be renamed in accordance with “public sentiment and Indian culture and heritage”.

Dhami said the move was aimed at inspiring people by honouring great personalities who contributed to the “preservation of Indian culture”.

The “Miyan” title is believed to have been given to residents of the princely state of Guler, which is now part of Himachal Pradesh, by the rulers of Tehri Garhwal, and when Guler Rajputs moved to Tehri Garhwal, they were given Miyawala as a land grant.

According to political analyst Jai Singh Rawat, several Rajputs in the region still retain “Miyan” in their surname.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Namami Bansal told The Indian Express that they have written to revenue officers and sought a report. “This was done as part of the announcement by the CM. Nothing has been notified yet, and due process of law will ensue. If there are any objections, it will be formally looked into,” she said.

Congress leader Ganesh Godiyal said that even the Chief Minister would feel ashamed if he read the town’s history. “The government should think of what changes it is heralding in people’s lives by changing the names of their villages. The government should focus on employment, inflation, gold rates, and corruption. While renaming these villages, they have now changed the name of a jagir of Rajputs. The government should be aware of the region’s history,” he said.