Maharashtra Renames Islampur to Ishwarpur Following Government Approval

The Maharashtra government has officially renamed Islampur to Ishwarpur, following a gazette notification approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This decision reflects the long-standing demand of local residents and is part of a broader trend of renaming towns based on historical and cultural significance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the support in this initiative. The renaming aligns with similar changes in the region, highlighting the ongoing dialogue about cultural identity and heritage in Maharashtra. For more details on this significant development, read the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 5, 2025, 10:16 IST

Official Renaming of Islampur

On Tuesday, the government of Maharashtra announced the renaming of Islampur, located in the Sangli district, to Ishwarpur through a gazette notification.

This change was confirmed by the General Administration Department of the state after receiving approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the proposal submitted by the state government, as reported by a local news outlet.

The notification indicated that all official documents would reflect the new name, Ishwarpur, and instructed various departments to implement the necessary updates.

In recent years, numerous towns and cities have undergone similar name changes, often based on historical or cultural considerations.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared the notification on social media, expressing his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the State Revenue Minister, described the renaming as a significant decision that respects the public's sentiments.

He noted that this request had been a long-standing demand from local residents, with representatives consistently advocating for it in the Assembly. Chief Minister Fadnavis actively pursued this request with the Union government.

Bawankule emphasized that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recognized the public's feelings in making this decision.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, supports this renaming initiative.

The push for the name change originated from Shiv Pratishthan, a Hindutva organization led by Sambhaji Bhide, which had previously submitted a memorandum to the Sangli Collectorate advocating for the change.

In 2022, the former Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government approved the renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad to Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively, with the Union government later endorsing these changes.

In May 2024, the Bombay High Court dismissed petitions challenging these renamings, a ruling that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

In March 2024, the state Cabinet also approved the renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar, in honor of the 18th-century queen Ahilyabai Holkar, although this proposal is still awaiting Union government approval.