In a fresh move to align place names with cultural and historical roots, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed the renaming of Mustafabad town in Ghaziabad district to Kabirdham, after the revered 15th-century mystic and poet Sant Kabir Das.
According to official sources, the proposal has been forwarded to the state’s Home Department for review before being sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for final approval. The government stated that the name Kabirdham reflects the state’s commitment to honoring India’s spiritual and cultural icons.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) praised the move, calling it a step toward reclaiming “India’s civilizational heritage.” Meanwhile, opposition parties criticized it as politically motivated, alleging that such renaming drives divert attention from pressing developmental issues.
Chief Minister Adityanath has previously led several renaming initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, including Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad to Ayodhya, citing the importance of restoring ancient and culturally significant names.
Sant Kabir Das, born in the 15th century, is widely regarded as a symbol of harmony between Hindu and Muslim communities, and the proposed name aims to reflect his philosophy of unity and devotion beyond religious divides.
If approved, this will be the latest in a series of renaming efforts by the Yogi Adityanath government, which maintains that such changes are part of a broader campaign to “preserve India’s spiritual identity.”
