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AGRA Is Likely To Be Renamed: Ambedkar University Entrusted With The Task Of Going Through Agra’s History Related To Its Ancient Name

There  is buzz in Uttar Pradesh that Agra, ancient and fabled city, may be renamed as Agravana.Dotted with multiple historical monuments ,in the Mahabharata epic  composed  in the 4th century  BCE or earlier, it has been referred to as  Agravana.It has also  been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who mentioned Agra by its modern name was Claudius Ptolemy, Greek mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer. He lived in the city of Alexandria in the Roman province of Egypt and passed away at the age of about 70 in AD 170.An Uttar Pradesh department has set in motion an exercise to examine if this city was known by any other name in ancient times triggering speculation about the city’s renaming. It is said modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi in the 16th century. Babar, founder of the Mughal dynasty, also stayed in the city. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Emperor Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. All these draw countless tourists from across the world. Agra’s Bhim Rao Ambedkar University has been   tasked to go into the issue by the local administration, Vice Chancellor Arvind Dixit confirmed. Some Agra residents are for renaming Agra on the website of State Government’s Stamp and Registration Department. Their requests have been referred to Agra administration .Incidentally; BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has renamed Allahabad, also another ancient city, as Prayagraj and Faizabad district is now called Ayodhya where the birth place of Lord Ram is located. Ambedkar University’s History department head Sugam Anand quoted by PTI saying the panel will examine the issue. The committee   has been formed comprising local research scholars, research students besides Sugam Anand. (With courtesy to tridenthotels.com for the image.edited by PK Chakravarty) .            

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