Renaming row: Aurangabad was also called Khadki, Fatehnagar

Shiv Sena's demand to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar has caused unease in year-old Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, but historians point out that city has been called by many or names.

Over centuries, city was also kwn as Raj Tadag, Khadki and Fatehnagar, historian Dr Dulari Qureshi told PTI.

An inscription in Kanheri caves refers to city being called Raj Tadag (royal lake), she said.

In book ' Icography of Buddhist Sculptures of Ellora' author Dr Ramesh Shankar Gupte also mentions that city was first called Raj Tadag.

That name continued till 10th century and also finds a mention in earlier trade routes. Ujjain-Ter trade route passed through Maheshwar, Burhanpur, Ajanta, Bhokardan, Raj Tadag, Pratishthan (Paithan) and Ter in Osmanabad district.

Italian writer Pia Brancaccio says in book 'Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformation in Art and Religion' that in 10th century Raj Tadag was famous for finished cotton goods.

Qureshi said city was kwn as Khadki when Malik Ambar was a Siddi military leader in Deccan region 400 years ago. " name Khadki detes rocky terrain of this place," she said.

Historian Rafat Qureshi said, "Ar name of present Aurangabad we find is Khujista Buniyad (auspicious foundation) during period of Aurangzeb but menclature was for a short time. Aurangzeb renamed city after himself and it has been kwn as Aurangabad since 1653," he said.

Former head of Department of History and Ancient Indian Culture of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Dr Pushpa Gaikwad said city's identity cant be changed by changing its name.

"Aurangabad is famous and people will identify it by this name even after it is renamed. world kws it by its present name," Gaikwad said.

History teacher Dr Bina Sengar said city's name can be equally associated with names of Devgiri/Daultabad and Pratishthan (Paithan).

Shiv Sena MLC Ambadas Danve said Sambhajinagar was name given by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who killed Sambhaji Raje is buried near Aurangabad, hence city should be called Sambhajinagar, he added.

AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel said one cant wipe off history merely by changing name of a place. " government has to spend crores of rupees in renaming city.

Why can't money be spent on better infrastructure," he added.

BJP MLA Atul Save said, " Muslim here names his kid as Aurangzeb, n why should we refer this city by his name? After Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation set up Love Aurangabad selfie points in city recently, an outfit linked to Danve came up with ar selfie point called Super Sambhajinagar.

In 1995, Shiv Sena had first demanded that Aurangabad be renamed as Sambhajinagar.

A proposal to that effect was passed in general body meeting of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation in June 1995, which was challenged by a Congress corporator in high court and later in Supreme Court.

Congress on Saturday reiterated its opposition to renaming Aurangabad even as its ally Shiv Sena said name change would happen soon but issue would t rock coalition government in Maharashtra.