Assam is witnessing growing unrest after the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Karimganj district will be renamed Shribhumi. The decision has triggered widespread protests, with local residents, particularly from the Muslim community, accusing the government of erasing their cultural and historical identity.
Protesters, including students, teachers, and community leaders, marched through the streets carrying placards and chanting slogans. “This is not just a name; it is our history and our identity,” said Mohammad Irfan, a local schoolteacher. “Changing the name of Karimganj to Shribhumi disregards our heritage and offends the Muslim community here.”
Leftist organisations have also condemned the move, arguing that it was done without consulting the people. “Karimganj is historically significant and linked to generations of local residents. Renaming it without consultation shows utter disregard for the people who live here,” said Rakesh Sharma, spokesperson for a regional leftist group.
The renaming has also created practical problems. Residents reported confusion over government documents, administrative records, and official paperwork. Authorities deployed police to manage the protests, and minor clashes were reported, though the situation remained largely under control.
For many Muslims in Karimganj, the renaming feels like part of a larger political agenda. “It feels like we are being erased from our own land,” said Ayesha Begum, a college student. “We have lived here for generations. The government should respect our identity instead of imposing new names that have no connection with our history.”
This controversy comes against the backdrop of a wider trend in BJP-ruled states, where places with Muslim-linked names have been changed. Analysts say such renaming drives, often justified as cultural or historical corrections, risk deepening communal divides.
“The government should engage with the people and respect local sentiment,” said Farhan Ahmed, a community leader. “Renaming Karimganj without consultation is not only insensitive but politically motivated. We demand the name be restored immediately.”
