Great news for devotees, Samrat Choudhary announced plans to rename Sulatanganj railway station.

Patna November 4, 2024: Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary, announced a plan to rename Sultanganj railway station to Ajgaibinath Dham, aligning with longstanding demands from local religious and community groups.

This change was proposed by the Municipal Council of Ajgaibinath Dham and sent to the Bihar government for approval.

“The Municipal Council of Ajgaibinath Dham had formally proposed the name change, which will soon be forwarded to the Railway Ministry for final approval. The movement to rename Sultanganj has been ongoing for a decade,” Samrat Choudhary said.

Samrat Choudhary’s announcement may create friction between BJP and JD(U):

This move may create friction between the BJP and the JD(U), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, especially given the JD(U)’s significant support base within the Muslim community.

The proposed name change, as part of a broader renaming initiative seen elsewhere, could influence the political dynamics between the two parties.

Samrat Choudhary acknowledged the work of Nitish Kumar:

Samrat Choudhary also acknowledged the development work led by the Nitish Kumar government in Sultanganj, including infrastructure improvements like bridges, roads, and Dharamshalas to support local growth and religious tourism.

Since 2007, the chief of the Juna Akhara Committee, and the Panda community, have advocated for the station to reflect the ancient significance of Ajgaibinath Dham.

This place is located on the bank of the Ganga River, holds religious importance and proponents of the name change believe it will honour the region’s historical and cultural identity. 

The renaming proposal emphasizes that this change should apply not only to the railway station but also to government offices and official documents, embedding the name Ajgaibinath Dham throughout state reference to the area.

NDA has changed the names of railway stations in the BJP-ruled states:

Since the NDA came to power at the centre, there has been a notable move to rename railway stations, particularly those with names associated with Muslim rulers or historical figures, to reflect local cultural or Hindu heritage.

This trend began in Uttar Pradesh, where high-profile changes included Mughal Sarai Junction being renamed Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction and Allahabad Junction being renamed Prayagraj.

Following these changes in UP, similar discussions are now underway in Bihar. The proposed renaming of Sultanganj railway station to Ajgaibinath Dham is an example, and there have been ongoing discussions about renaming other stations in the state, such as Bakhtiyarpur station.

The motivation behind these changes is to emphasize local cultural identities over historical names with Muslim associations, which proponents argue aligns with honouring Bihar’s cultural heritage.

The proposed changes reflect a broader push to recon textualize historical names in a way that some communities feel better represents local heritage, though the process remains a sensitive topic in the state’s political landscape.

Also Read: Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary moves to 5 Desh Ratna Marg bungalow.

EOM.