Maharashtra Village Islampur Officially Renamed to Ishwarpur After Central Government Approval
Mumbai | October 26, 2025 | www.deccanlive.com
The long-debated practice of renaming historic towns and villages in India has once again sparked controversy — this time in Maharashtra. The Central Government has officially approved the renaming of Islampur village in Sangli district to Ishwarpur.
According to reports, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has given its consent to the proposal following a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 13, 2025. The Islampur Municipal Council had earlier passed a resolution on June 4, 2025, requesting the official name change.
In a communication addressed to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Tushar Veshya, the Superintending Surveyor of the ASI, requested that the Gazette notification for the name change be issued soon. The information has also been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Office of the Surveyor General of India, and regional offices in Jaipur and Pune.
Before the formal approval, a large public march was organized locally in support of renaming Islampur to Ishwarpur. The move, however, has drawn criticism from several quarters, who see it as part of a growing trend to alter names associated with India’s Islamic heritage for political or ideological reasons.
