Renaming New Delhi would have been a priority had it been called New London.
By ET Bureau |
BCCL
Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel made a demand last week that India’s capital should be renamed Dilli.
Will Delhi by any other name smell as sweet? Of course, some would aver that Delhi or any other city (at least many parts of them) by whatever name will smell just the same unless the state and municipal authorities do something about the prevailing civic situation in most Indian conurbations. But then smell is probably not the issue when it comes to Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel’s demand last week that India’s capital be renamed Dilli.
While the British had a role in the modern spelling of Delhi, India should be grateful that they did not decide to call the capital of the Empire after London, or the first Empress, or her family given that Victorias, Georgetowns, Charlestons and Williamsburgs pepper the former British bailiwick.
Then the renaming of India’s capital would have been deemed more urgent — and therefore the onerous responsibility of India’s founding leaders. Already tasked with many more important issues, would they have just opted for Gandhinagar?
Since the need never arose and the British appellation of New Delhi appears not to have ruffled even nationalist feathers, changing its name to Dilli now hardly seems necessary.
Besides, Dili is already the capital of Timor-Leste, a new nation with which India had old trading links via the Portuguese in Goa and recognised promptly after it gained independence in 2002.
Wish To Travel The World? Don't Miss Out On These 7 Destinations
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By Masoom Gupte
To reduce the world to a list of top destinations is a near impossible task. But for a variety of reasons some places are favoured over others and become the flavour of the moment. Here are some of the top spots trending this year.
By Masoom GupteTo reduce the world to a list of top destinations is a near impossible task. But for a variety of reasons some places are favoured over others and become the flavour of the moment. Her..
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Together, the five Stans — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — of Central Asia spell exotic. The historical association with the Silk Road, that passes through these countries, adds to the appeal and aura of the region. From cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent, that mix the new with the old seamlessly, to the topography of the region that abounds in vast deserts, mountains and rivers, this promises to be the journey of a lifetime.
Together, the five Stans — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — of Central Asia spell exotic. The historical association with the Silk Road, that passes through these cou..
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When the landscape of Iceland showed up in a Bollywood movie some time back, many were prompted to ask if the sequence was shot on location, or if the backdrop was a result of computer generated graphics. That’s how unreal Iceland can be. The popularity of this European nation has been on a steady rise, prompting a national discussion about applying curbs on the number of tourists permitted to visit. Best to tick this one off the bucket list, before your name slips on to a waiting list of visitors.
When the landscape of Iceland showed up in a Bollywood movie some time back, many were prompted to ask if the sequence was shot on location, or if the backdrop was a result of computer generated grap..
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True, the country has a checkered past, enmeshed in a long history of violence. But nothing like tourism to change a nation’s image and fortunes. Earlier this year, the country’s tourism department signed a multi-million dollar branding deal with English football club Arsenal, putting the country’s tourism tagline on player jerseys. The deal quickly became controversial as Rwanda is one of the world’s poorest countries and marketing monies are frowned upon. But soon the number of UK visitors surged, claimed officials. Something did the trick. Either the campaign, or the country’s stunning national parks and wildlife.
True, the country has a checkered past, enmeshed in a long history of violence. But nothing like tourism to change a nation’s image and fortunes. Earlier this year, the country’s tourism department s..
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This one is for the adrenaline chasers. Go to the end of the world aboard a ship breaker, surrounded by glaciers and water, and little else. High fitness levels are recommended. But even that’s not a guard against potential sea sickness bouts. Prepare for wonder on this journey, and a discovery of what you are truly made of.
This one is for the adrenaline chasers. Go to the end of the world aboard a ship breaker, surrounded by glaciers and water, and little else. High fitness levels are recommended. But even that’s not a..
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It’s been voted as one of the best cities to live in the world. Not exactly unknown, the city does tend to lose out to the hordes that prefer the shinier, bigger cities of neighbouring United States. But by itself, Vancouver, a west coast seaport in British Columbia, is not just one of Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities, it is also a thriving metropolis with a buzzing art, music, food and theatre scene. Surrounded by mountains, it isn’t too hard on the eyes either.
It’s been voted as one of the best cities to live in the world. Not exactly unknown, the city does tend to lose out to the hordes that prefer the shinier, bigger cities of neighbouring United States...
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One of the seven wonders of the world, this one is a definite bucket list item for many. T rekking up to the Inca ruins, is a much-awaited highpoint to those travelling to the continent, and with Peru on their itinerary. An early morning climb is strongly recommended to witness the sun creeping over the sprawling ruins.
One of the seven wonders of the world, this one is a definite bucket list item for many. T rekking up to the Inca ruins, is a much-awaited highpoint to those travelling to the continent, and with Per..
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A self-drive tour through New Zealand, taking in the abundant natural beauty. Enough said. Here’s a tip to top that. Spend a couple of days at the Aoraki/Mount Cook alpine village. Spend time in the shadow of New Zealand’s highest mountain, boating on the glacier lakes, walking around, taking off on hikes and generally pausing to breathe.
A self-drive tour through New Zealand, taking in the abundant natural beauty. Enough said. Here’s a tip to top that. Spend a couple of days at the Aoraki/Mount Cook alpine village. Spend time in the ..
