Uttarakhand: In Uttarakhand, the Dhami government recently changed the names of 15 different places, sparking a lot of political debate. One of the areas whose name was changed is Miyanwala in Dehradun, which has become the biggest point of controversy across the state. BJP’s local MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ and several other leaders met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after the name change to congratulate and thank him. However, after strong opposition from some people, the government has now decided to reconsider the decision. The name change of Miyanwala drew strong reactions from the locals. People raised concerns on social media and other platforms, questioning the move. Out of the 15 places whose names were changed, eight are in Haridwar district, which include areas and roads. Similarly, in Nainital district, two roads were renamed, and in Udham Singh Nagar, a local panchayat area got a new name. In Dehradun district, names of four places, including Miyanwala, were announced to be changed.
But once the Miyanwala name change was announced, there was significant local backlash—even from within the BJP. Former Mandi Samiti Chairman Kuldeep Batola, along with local residents, had requested the CM to reconsider the decision, which the government eventually agreed to. What’s interesting is that while the opposition was rising, many BJP leaders, including MLA Umesh Sharma and Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, were openly congratulating the CM for the change—showing clear differences within the party itself. Those opposing the move argue that “Miyanwala” isn’t a Muslim name but one that reflects the identity of the local community. As per local history, the title “Miyan” was given by the rulers of Tehri Garhwal to members of the Guler royal family, which now lies in Himachal Pradesh. These rulers were allotted land in what is today Miyanwala in Dehradun, and the area has long been linked to Guler Rajputs. This historical background was also presented to Chief Minister Dhami, who has now said he will reconsider the matter.
Meanwhile, in Haldwani, the names of two roads have already been officially changed. According to an order issued by Urban Development Additional Secretary Gaurav Kumar, the decision was made after the mayor’s proposal received a no-objection note from the PWD. The Directorate of Urban Development and the Nainital District Magistrate have been asked to follow up and report back to the state. As per the order, Nawabi Road will now be known as Atal Marg, and the road from Panchakki to ITI will be renamed Guru Golwalkar Marg. In Udham Singh Nagar, the name of the municipal town Sultanpur Patti is also likely to be changed soon to Kaushalya Puri. After the controversy surrounding the decision to rename Miyanwala to Ramjiwala, a delegation had met CM Dhami. He assured them that he would review the decision. For now, the file related to Miyanwala has been sent to the CM’s office, and the final decision rests with him.
