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NDTV
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Who Are Delhi's Roads Named After?
New Delhi: By the time you've made your way from Tughlaq Road to Bhagat Singh Marg, you've time-travelled about 700 years. And you didn't even notice. Delhi isn't just a city of monuments, it's a city of memory. Its roads, in particular, are time capsules. They don't just take you places; they tell you who got to write the history books. Or rewrite them. From Mughal emperors and British viceroys to freedom fighters and near-forgotten local leaders, the capital's street signs double up as a living museum of India's political, cultural and ideological inheritance. And while the buildings beside them have crumbled and risen again, the road names, with all their symbolic weight, have stayed. Sometimes unchanged, sometimes challenged, sometimes completely rewritten. In Delhi, the battle over who we are often begins with where we drive. Names That Built Empires Walk, or rather, drive through Lutyens' Delhi, and you'll still find yourself surrounded by the ghosts of the Mughal dynasty. Akbar Road. Shahjahan Road. Humayun Road. Even Babar Lane. Some of the oldest roads in Delhi carry the names of rulers from the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, eras that deeply shaped the city's language, architecture and power structures. Tughlaq Road: Named after Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. Ironically, his capital, Tughlaqabad, lies in ruins, but the road named after him runs through the heart of Lutyens' Delhi. Akbar Road: For the Mughal emperor, often called the architect of syncretic rule in India. Home to several Congress party offices, it has become a symbolic space for political power. Aurangzeb Road (renamed Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road in 2015): One of the most controversial names. Aurangzeb, a strict Mughal ruler, is seen by some as a despot and by others as a devout leader. The renaming was framed as honouring a "true nationalist." Shahjahan Road: Named after the emperor who built the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, two of Delhi's most enduring icons. But in recent years, these names have come under fire - literally, under white paint and political petitions. In 2022, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta urged the NDMC to rename six such roads, calling them "symbols of slavery." He proposed new names: Akbar Road as Maharana Pratap Road, Tughlaq Road as Guru Gobind Singh Marg and Shahjahan Road after General Bipin Rawat. This isn't new. In 2015, Aurangzeb Road became APJ Abdul Kalam Road following public pressure and political backing. Critics called it erasure of history, supporters said it was historical correction. Either way, the precedent had been set. Viceroys, Princes And The British Blueprint When the British rebuilt Delhi as the new imperial capital in 1911, they named roads not for local figures, but for governors, viceroys, and visiting royalty. Curzon Road (now Kasturba Gandhi Marg): Originally named after Lord Curzon, infamous for dividing Bengal in 1905. Renamed post-independence to honour Gandhi's wife and fellow freedom fighter. Connaught Place / Connaught Circus: Still bears the name of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Though officially renamed Rajiv Chowk and Indira Chowk, the British names continue in common usage. Kingsway (now Kartavya Path): Once the route for British parades, later renamed Rajpath post-Independence, and more recently renamed Kartavya Path under the Modi government, in a bid to decolonise and "Indianise" public symbols. Minto Road and Minto Bridge: Still named after Lord Minto, British Viceroy from 1905-1910. Unlike Curzon or Kingsway, these names haven't faced public or political pressure yet, possibly because they're lower-profile. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, didn't do much in Delhi, but he got a traffic circle and a central shopping district. Lord Curzon, infamous for partitioning Bengal, was once immortalised in the very heart of New Delhi. These names reinforced the empire's narrative: that Britain had brought order, governance and elegance to a "wild" land. Post-1947, newly independent India began peeling off these layers. Kingsway became Rajpath. Curzon Road was rechristened for the Gandhian legacy. Race Course Road - the address of the Prime Minister - was transformed into Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016. But the residue of colonial presence still lingers. Freedom Fighters, Founding Fathers And Forgotten Heroes Post-independence, Delhi saw a wave of renamings - not just to erase colonial names, but to honour the leaders who shaped the idea of a free India. Vijay Chowk: Formerly the site of imperial parades, it now honours India's victory in the 1971 war. Subhash Marg, Bhagat Singh Marg, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Dadabhai Naoroji Road: Each one commemorates leaders who resisted both British rule and communal politics. Kamraj Marg, Krishna Menon Marg, Purana Quila Road (near Indira Gandhi's residence): Markers of India's Nehruvian legacy, many of these roads are located near the power corridors of central Delhi. Interestingly, Race Course Road, the Prime Minister's official residence address, was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016. A symbolic shift from colonial leisure to public welfare. Municipal bodies in Delhi, especially the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation, have often renamed unnamed or obscure properties after local figures, from community leaders to councillors and even vague "religious personalities." In one recent round, 34 new names were assigned: Baba Ramdev Park (not the yoga guru, but a Rajasthani saint), Master Attar Singh Park (proposed because "the Brahmin population exceeds 10,000"), and Ashwini Kumar Hall (identity unclear). Even leaders from the ruling party admitted that councillors were proposing names after relatives or friends. And since the rules only prohibit renaming properties that already have names, these proposals walk a legal grey zone, while cluttering the symbolic map of Delhi with a mix of reverence and randomness. Roads Of Memory Thankfully, not all renaming debates are messy. Some road names honour genuine titans of Indian history. Netaji Subhash Marg. Bhagat Singh Marg. Kamraj Marg. Rajendra Prasad Road. These are legacy markers, not contested so much as celebrated. Others, like Chittaranjan Park and Kamla Nehru Ridge, preserve the memory of leaders who didn't wield swords but still shaped the nation. Mr. C.R. Das, a lawyer and activist, and Kamla Nehru, a social reformer and political partner to Jawaharlal Nehru, may have been overshadowed by bigger figures, but their names remain rooted in the city's geography. Where Faith Finds Its Address Delhi has long been a melting pot, not just of power but of prayer. Some road names, thankfully, have little to do with politics and more with everyday geography or faith. Street names like Nizamuddin, Jama Masjid Road, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road and St. James Church Road illustrate how faiths have lived side-by-side in the capital. Yamuna Marg: Named after the river that has shaped Delhi for centuries. Nizamuddin Road: Home to the dargah of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, this road blends religion and history. Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road, Hanuman Road, Church Road: Reflect religious diversity and how Delhi's roads mirror its faith communities. Chandni Chowk: Designed by Jahanara Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan. Its name means "moonlit square," and it still bustles with traders, shoppers and history. These spiritual street names aren't controversial. They're lived realities: shrines in stone and asphalt, as sacred as they are secular. Roads That Remember (And Roads That Forget) There are glaring omissions, too. Delhi still lacks roads named after many iconic women beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family. Rani Gaidinliu, Captain Lakshmi Sehgal and Hansa Mehta - a few feature on the map. Dalit leaders, too, are underrepresented beyond Ambedkar. What's In A Name? It's easy to scoff at road renaming as political posturing, and sometimes, it is. But in a city as old and contested as Delhi, names do matter. They tell us whose story gets told. They shape the way we remember and forget. After all, roads outlast the regimes that name them. Politicians come and go. Monarchs fall. Councillors get voted out. But Shahjahan Road? It's still there. So is Bhagat Singh Marg. The signboards may fade, and the asphalt may crack. But the memory endures. Which is why every name change becomes a fight not just for territory, but for truth. Every Turn Tells A Story The next time you take a cab in Delhi, look up from your phone. You might just find yourself driving over the past. Was this road named for a conqueror, a coloniser, a revolutionary or a forgotten saint? Was it renamed in rage or reverence? Does it belong to the people who walk it every day, or to those who only seek to rename it from afar? Delhi's roads don't just lead you somewhere. They ask where you're coming from. So, the next time you ask for directions, don't just look at the map. Look at the names. They'll tell you more than Google ever could.
New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival 2025 kicks off successfully, celebrating Delhi's rich theatre legacy
Delhi's theatre scene springs to life this week with the return of the Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival, hosted by the city's iconic Shri Ram Centre of Performing Arts (SRPCA). This year, the repertory brings four in-house productions to the stage — each one distinct in form and spirit — as part of a growing effort to spotlight Hindi theatre's depth, diversity, and relevance in the digital age. 'This festival isn't just about showcasing good scripts, it's about keeping the fire of live performance alive,' says Hemant Bharat Ram, executive vice president of SRPCA. 'In a world where media consumption has become extremely individualistic and mostly online, theatre stands out as something truly unique.' The 2025 lineup includes playwright Girish Karnad's celebrated historical dramas Tughlaq and Agni Aur Barkha, Ram Dayal Sharma's folk-infused Daaku Sultana, and the new, contemporary play Stuck by Maneesh Verma. Each brings a different theatrical language to the stage — from epic period drama and musical folk traditions to slice-of-life realism.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 5 June 2025
What: Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival | Tughlaq (Directed by K Madavane) Where: Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, 4, Safdar Hashmi Marg, Mandi House A post shared by Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts (@shriramcentre) When: June 5 Timing: 7pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines) What: 12th Edition of Dialogue to Develop a Vision for the Environment of Delhi – Bikram Singh Sajwan, Vivek Saxena, Prof Akshay Kaul, Yogita Shukla, Suhas Borker, and Justice Abhay S Oka Where: Conference Room I, India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Road When: June 5 Timing: 6pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line) What: Taekwondo, Facing the World Where: Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI), 25-A, Ring Road, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar IV When: June 2 to August 1 Timing: 9am to 6pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Moolchand (Violet Line) What: Bollywood Night ft Aakarshakh Band Where: The Terrace, Plot-01, Sector-5, Vaishali, Ghaziabad When: June 5 Timing: 8pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Vaishali (Blue Line) What: Kal Ki Chinta Nahi Karta ft Ravi Gupta Where: Studio XO Bar, Trillium Avenue, Sector 29, Gurugram When: June 5 Timing: 8pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Millennium City Centre Gurugram (Yellow Line) What: 2nd Dr BR Ambedkar Craft Mela Where: Noida Haat, D-10, Sector 33A, Noida When: June 5 to 9 Timing: 4pm to 10pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Noida City Centre (Blue Line)
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kesari Veer movie review: Sooraj Pancholi, Suniel Shetty film marred by weak plot, over-the-top performances and garish visual effects
What is worse than filmmakers latching on to a trend? The answer: Willfully undermining the audience's intelligence for the sake of making mass entertainers. How else does one explain a prolonged battle scene in Kesari Veer in which a beheaded warrior with a sword in each hand, goes on slicing his opponents before sending one of the weapons flying at an evil guy standing afar and killing him. This sequence, perhaps, would have worked in a bizzare video game. But 'Kesari Veer' is based on tragic historical events. Set in the late 14th century, the movie narrates the story of Hamirji Gohil, a brave warrior who fought against the Tughlaq empire to protect the Somnath temple. The film draws from the widely-known historical accounts that Somnath temple, located on the coastline of Saurashtra, faced multiple attacks by invaders and rulers. The temple was demolished as well as rebuilt several times in the past. The present-day Somnath temple was reconstructed following the directions of India's first Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel and its consecration ceremony was held in May 1951. As an homage to Hamirji Gohil, his statue was installed near the temple in 2009. Driven by the aim of piggybacking on the current trend of infusing nationalistic fervour in a cinematic narrative, Kesari Veer tries to position itself as an entertainer by weaving some historical facts, legends and myths around the Somnath temple into the screenplay. Yet, it will be futile to look for historical accuracy in this fictionalised narrative. Instead of attention to detail, the film banks heavily on gimmicks as well as tries to arouse patriotic feelings. It also relentlessly talks about veerata (bravery), which is mainly defined by masculine aggression. Small wonder Hamir (Sooraj Pancholi), who is constantly hailed for his 'veerata', is made to look fierce. He rarely gets to relax his facial muscles. The overdose of valour also indicates that a section of filmmakers are still nursing a Baahubali hangover. Hamir's love interest Rajal (Akanksha Sharma) too is presented as a 'veer' and her love language is putting a dagger on his throat when the latter is going away. The cast features Suniel Shetty, who appears as an ardent Shiv-bhakt with dreadlocks and rudraksh, and Vivek Oberoi as a ruthless Mughal attacker, who is seen holding a wine glass when not killing people. Kesari Veer movie trailer: Kesari Veer (which literally translates into 'saffron-hued warrior') is clearly influenced by the recent spate of patriotic and nationalistic tales. It tries to accentuate the nationalistic feel through dialogues when our land is referred to as 'kesariya Bharat'; by giving a saffron tint to a battle scene; or, making the Hindu warriors wear saffron-hued pagdis. The makers, however, appear lax when it comes to working on the film's entertainment quotient. The plot is wafer-thin; storytelling flat; and the performances are unnecessarily over-the-top. The film dishes out one gory action sequence after another with some family scenes or romantic encounters briefly breaking the monotony. This limits the scope of the narrative to develop the characters or add depth to them. As the storytelling remains firmly focussed on 'good versus evil' without leaving any room for nuance, the scenes become repetitive and, even, illogical. If the absence of logic does not leave the audience banging their head in frustration, then the overuse of CGI would. It almost gives the impression of certain scenes being made using AI tools. With a runtime of 161 minutes, the film becomes tiresome. Kesari Veer movie director: Prince Dhiman Kesari Veer movie cast: Suniel Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi, Vivek Oberoi, Akanksha Sharma, Barkha Bisht, Kiran Kumar, Aruna Irani Kesari Veer movie rating: 1.5 stars
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First Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Kesari Veer movie review: Suniel Shetty-Vivek Oberoi-Sooraj Pancholi's visual grandeur is long & exhausting
Kesari Veer is a wasted potential opportunity, which could have turned out into an engaging magnum opus read more Star cast: Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Sooraj Pancholi, Akanksha Sharma, Aruna Irani, Kiran Kumar, Barkha Bisht, Himanshu Malhotra Director: Prince Dhiman Set in the 14th century, the action-period drama, which is based on a true story, starts with a small tale of how Somnath Temple was constructed. In the kingdom of Arthila, a mother (Barkha Bisht) tells his little youngest son Hamirji Gohil that Lord Shiva will always protect people and guide them towards kindness. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, soon after some time, the Tughlaq dynasty invades the country and starts ruling India. They not only steal gold and precious things but also showcase their tyranny towards women and children. Now, Hamirji Gohil who is a grown-up man (Sooraj Pancholi) does what he can do best to protect his people from Tughlaqs. Apart from looting people, Tughlaqs also try to destroy Hindu temples and force them to convert to Islam, however, the Bhil community (who are devotees of Shiva) and their head Vegdaji (Suniel Shetty) prevent a Shiv temple from getting destroyed. Now, the Sultan of the Tughlaq dynasty (Kiran Kumar) wants to attack Saurashtra as it has a lot of precious ornaments including gold. He handles this responsibility to his menacing and cruel vizier Jallaludin Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi), who also wants to be the Sultan eliminating the current one. He challenges Hamirji that not only he will loot all the gold but will also destroy Somnath Temple. Now, Hamirji along with Vedgaji and his Bhil community come together and fight against Zafar's huge army to protect their sacred temple. Who will win this epic battle? Kesari Veer is filled with visually appealing moments, which shows the grandeur of the movie but unfortunately, the Prince Dhiman directorial, which is co-directed by Kanubhai Chauhan, fails to turn it into a gripping or an engaging affair. The screenplay looks dull and longtime with no highlights. The unnecessary songs further hamper the storytelling as they break the rhythm of the narrative. After a runtime of over 2 hours and 40 minutes, you feel exhausted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Talking about the performances, Sooraj Pancholi has put his best foot forward as Hamirji, on the other hand, debutant Akanksha Sharma as Rajal has a luminous screen presence but has a long way to go. Suniel Shetty has done his part well while Vivek looked menacing as Zafar though it does not match up to his previous path-breaking performances. On the whole, Kesari Veer is a wasted potential opportunity, which could have turned out into an engaging magnum opus. Rating 2 (out of 5 stars) Kesari Veer is playing in cinemas
