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Badarpur Junction Name Change Proposed by MLA Kamalakhya: Historian Highlights Historical Roots

The longstanding proposal to rename Badarpur Railway Junction to Siddeswar Railway Junction has gained fresh attention, with North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha recently voicing his support. Purkayastha has claimed that this move echoes the demand of many in the region who believe that renaming the junction would better reflect the cultural heritage of Barak Valley.

In a press statement, Purkayastha emphasised his commitment to bringing this issue to the Assam Legislative Assembly, stating that he sees this as a way to preserve the cultural and religious heritage of Barak Valley. According to him, the Siddeswar temple holds significant historical importance, and renaming the railway junction would symbolise respect for local traditions and the valley’s deep-rooted cultural identity. He acknowledged the public’s long-standing appeal for this renaming and stated that he hopes the state government will respond positively to the proposal.

While speaking about the temple, Purkayastha mentioned that Siddeswar Shibbari dates back several centuries. Though he admitted uncertainty about the precise date of the temple’s establishment, he alluded to a belief that it may have ties to ancient sage Kapil Muni, who is thought to have visited the area thousands of years ago. This connection, he argues, makes the temple a deeply cherished symbol in the region, and, in his view, renaming the junction would honour this sacred heritage.

However, not everyone supports this renaming proposal. In an interview with Barak Bulletin, Badarpur Nabinchandra College’s history professor BR Khan raised concerns that changing the name of Badarpur Junction could erase a piece of regional history. Khan traced the name ‘Badarpur’ back to Shah Badaruddin, a disciple of the revered Sufi saint Shah Jalal, who is said to have lived in the area centuries ago. Badaruddin’s dargah, or shrine, once stood in Badarpur, but was lost over time due to erosion from the nearby river.

Khan highlighted that historical records, including documents from the British colonial period, consistently refer to the area as Badarpur. According to him, the name has been in use since the era of the Mughals, and appeared in significant documents, such as the Badarpur Treaty signed on 6 March 1824 with Gobinda Chandra, last ruler of Khaspur. He added that other British records too mention Badarpur, noting that Bundashil, a location near Badarpur, was recorded as being situated just a kilometre away from Badarpur.

The railway junction itself, established in the 1898, took its name from the town of Badarpur. Professor Khan explained that renaming it would risk distorting historical continuity. He suggested that creating a new station closer to Siddeswar temple and naming that after the temple would be a better solution than altering an existing name with deep historical roots.

Khan emphasised the importance of preserving historical names, citing examples. He mentioned places such as Shakespeare Sarani and Lenin Sarani of Kolkata, which were renamed from their original designations. According to Khan, these changes often lead to the loss of historical context, as each name carries a unique story tied to a specific time and place. Changing these names, he argued, erodes connections to those histories.

He pointed out that Kaliganj, his own place, was named after a prominent individual, Kaliprasanna Purkayastha, despite being a Muslim-majority area the name remains the same. Khan believes that this historical resonance should be protected regardless of religious or demographic shifts, highlighting his stance that names are more than mere labels but encapsulate histories, legacies, and cultural identities.

As the proposal gains attention, the question remains whether the Assam government will approve the renaming of Badarpur Junction. For Purkayastha and his supporters, the change represents a way to honour Siddeswar temple and its cultural significance. For historians like Khan, however, preserving the name Badarpur is essential to safeguarding the region’s legacy and avoiding a potential distortion of its storied past.

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