Bihar’s political heavyweight Upendra Kushwaha made headlines in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday by demanding that Patna be officially renamed Pataliputra, invoking the majestic history of the Mauryan dynasty. During thanks motion on President Droupadi Murmu’s speech, the RLSP leader highlighted how the city once served as the nerve center of an empire whose borders dwarfed today’s India.
‘This name evokes immense pride,’ Kushwaha stated, pointing to archaeological remnants that testify to Pataliputra’s past splendor. He linked it to the President’s vision: commemorating great feats of forebears motivates youth and accelerates progress toward ‘Viksit Bharat.’ India, once the ‘Golden Bird,’ deserves to reclaim such symbols, he asserted.
Kushwaha listed precedents—Kolkata from Calcutta, Odisha from Orissa, Mumbai from Bombay—to bolster his case. Bihar’s pinnacle under the Mauryas, with international acclaim for its heritage sites, demands this recognition, he added. The empire’s expanse included regions now independent nations, underscoring its unparalleled reach.
As debates on cultural renaming gain traction, Kushwaha’s intervention revives calls for historical authenticity. Critics may see it as symbolic politics, but supporters view it as essential for instilling pride in Bihar’s youth. With elections looming, this could signal broader narratives on heritage and development in the state’s politics.