BJP MP Seeks Review of Colonial Symbols
Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma urges nationwide exercise to remove colonial-era names, laws and practices
- BJP MP Dinesh Sharma calls for review of colonial-era symbols and laws.
- Seeks renaming of roads and landmarks linked to historical invaders.
- Proposes national commission to examine colonial legacy in public spaces.
- Urges education reforms to honour freedom fighters and national heroes.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Aug: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday called for a nationwide review of colonial-era symbols, laws and public landmarks, urging India to remove the remnants of what he described as a “slave mentality” nearly eight decades after Independence.
Raising the issue during a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha, Sharma said the country continues to carry symbols and practices associated with foreign rule and should align its institutions and public memory with the values of an independent nation.
Sharma cited examples of countries such as Poland, the Baltic nations and China, saying they had removed symbols linked to past occupation or authoritarian regimes while preserving history through education.
Questioning the continued presence of roads named after historical rulers and invaders, Sharma pointed to roads in the national capital such as Akbar Road, Babur Road, Humayun Road and Tughlaq Road. He said these should instead honour freedom fighters and national icons, including Rani Lakshmibai, Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqulla Khan, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maharana Pratap, Birsa Munda and soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj.
The BJP MP also criticised the continued use of colonial-era terminology in the judiciary, particularly the expression “My Lord”, saying such practices reflect a lingering colonial mindset.
Among his proposals, Sharma urged the Centre to establish a national commission to review colonial-era symbols, monuments and outdated laws. He also called for changes to educational curricula and museum narratives so that historical invaders are presented as invaders rather than rulers.
He further suggested renaming monuments and public places associated with invaders after freedom fighters, revolutionaries and other national heroes, saying such steps would strengthen India’s national identity and honour those who fought for the country’s freedom.
