New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the renaming of Jalalabad town in Shahjahanpur district as Parashurampuri, replacing its Mughal-era name with one linked to Hindu religious figure Parashurama.
The proposal received approval from the Uttar Pradesh cabinet after years of demands from Hindu organisations seeking a name change. State officials said the new name reflects the town’s connection with an ancient temple dedicated to Parashurama and his mother, Renuka, along with the nearby sacred pond known as Ramtal.
The state government has also declared the Parashurama temple complex a tourist destination and allocated around Rs 200 million for its redevelopment.
Historical records state Jalalabad was established around 1560 and named after Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. During the Mughal period, the town developed as an administrative and military centre due to its location along routes connecting Delhi, Bengal and the Awadh region.
The renaming proposal was introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government last year and received approval from the Union Home Ministry in August 2025 before being placed before the state cabinet.
The decision forms part of a broader trend of renaming public places in Uttar Pradesh and other states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Several cities, districts, railway stations and roads linked with Muslim rulers, Persian names and Mughal history have undergone name changes in recent years.
Historians have said such changes affect public understanding of India’s diverse historical legacy. Critics argue renaming places associated with Muslim rulers risks reducing the visibility of Islamic contributions to India’s architecture, administration and urban development.
Supporters of the move say it highlights local religious and cultural traditions connected with the renamed locations.
