India, a land in rich culture and history, has seen a significant changes since independece in 1947. One notable aspect of this transformation is the renaming of several cities. These changes are often part of broader effort to decolonize place names, reflecting local languages, cultures and historical significance.
From Bombay to Mumbai in 1995, Madras to Chennai in 1996, Calcutta to Kolkata in 2001, and Bangalore to Bengaluru in 2014, there are many cities polished its name.
| OLD NAME | NEW NAME | YEAR |
| Cawnpore | Kanpur | 1948 |
| Baroda | Vadodara | 1974 |
| Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram | 1991 |
| Bombay | Mumbai | 1995 |
| Cochin | Kochi | 1996 |
| Madras | Chennai | 1996 |
| Calcutta | Kolkatta | 2001 |
| Pondicherry | Puducherry | 2006 |
| Hubli | Hubballi | 2014 |
| Bangalore | Bengaluru | 2014 |
| Mysore | Mysuru | 2014 |
| Chikkamagalore | Chikkamagaluru | 2014 |
| Mangalore | Mangaluru | 2014 |
| Belgaum | Belagavi | 2014 |
| Gulbarga | Kalaburagi | 2014 |
| Bijapur | Vijayapura | 2014 |
| Gurgaon | Gurugram | 2016 |
| Allahabad | Prayagraj | 2018 |
| Poona | Pune | 1978 |
Let’s take a look on some of the most significant city name changes in post-independence India.
- Bombay to Mumbai (1995)
Perhaps the most well-known name change, Bombay was officially renamed Mumbai in 1995. The name Mumbai is derived from Mumbā Devī, the patron goddess of the indigenous Koli community. This change was a move to emphasize local Marathi identity and shed the colonial name given by the Portuguese and later popularized by the British.
- Calcutta to Kolkata (2001)
Calcutta, the capital of British India until 1911, was renamed Kolkata in 2001. The new name is closer to its original Bengali pronunciation. This change was part of a broader initiative to promote indigenous culture and correct anglicized names.
- Madras to Chennai (1996)
In 1996, the city of Madras was officially renamed Chennai. The name Chennai is derived from Chennapattinam, a village that existed near the modern-day city before the British establishment of Madras. This renaming was aimed at preserving Tamil heritage and identity.
4. Bangalore to Bengaluru (2014)
Bangalore, known for its tech industry, was renamed Bengaluru in 2014. The name change reflects the city’s original Kannada name. It was part of a broader effort to rename several cities in Karnataka to better reflect local languages and history.
- Trivandrum to Thiruvananthapuram (1991)
Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, was officially renamed Thiruvananthapuram in 1991. The new name is the city’s original name in Malayalam, meaning “City of Lord Anantha,” referring to the deity of the iconic Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
- Pondicherry to Puducherry (2006)
Pondicherry, a former French colony, was renamed Puducherry in 2006. The name Puducherry, meaning “New Town” in Tamil, reflects the region’s indigenous history and linguistic heritage.
7. Cawnpore to Kanpur (1948)
Soon after independence, Cawnpore, a major industrial city in Uttar Pradesh, was renamed Kanpur. This change marked an early effort to discard anglicized names and reclaim indigenous ones.
- Baroda to Vadodara (1974)
Baroda was officially renamed Vadodara in 1974. The name Vadodara is derived from the Sanskrit word “Vatodar,” meaning “in the belly of the Banyan tree.” This change was aimed at restoring the city’s historical and cultural roots.
- Mysore to Mysuru (2014)
Mysore, a city known for its rich cultural heritage, was renamed Mysuru in 2014. This renaming aligns with the city’s Kannada pronunciation and historical significance.
10. Gauhati to Guwahati (1983)
Gauhati, the largest city in Assam, was renamed Guwahati in 1983. The name Guwahati is derived from Assamese words meaning “areca nut market,” reflecting the city’s historical trading importance.
The renaming of Indian cities is an ongoing journey, reflecting the nation’s evolving identity and values. Each change tells a story of cultural pride, historical correction, and a vision for the future. As India continues to grow and evolve, these names serve as a testament to its rich heritage and dynamic present. Clickhere to know the largest wonders of the world.