Thread by @total_woke_

Why renaming #Aurangabad to #Sambhajinagar was very important culturally.

A mini thread.

1 The district has important history far older than Aurangzeb. Naming the district and city Aurangabad took away from the glorious past and gave the impression it's all about the 17th century jihadi. Paithan, one of the oldest inhabited cities on earth, was capital of

2000 yr old Satvahana dynasty that ruled large parts of India.

2 Spiritual leaders : Some of the most important saints linked with Hindu revival are linked with the district. Changdev, Dyaneshwar, Sopandev, Muktabai, Eknath etc have nothing to do with Aurangzeb.

3 Ajanta Ellora caves : One of the greatest architectural marvels on earth, Ajanta & Ellora reside in the district and pre-date Aurangzeb by a millennium. In fact Aurangzeb tried to destroy the temples. It's an insult to our great traditions to carry the name of that vandal.

4 Devgiri was capital of formidable Yadava dynasty that lasted 5 centuries. The place was always important and when Tughlaq moved his capital from Delhi to Devgiri (Daulatabad, 1327 to 1334), he was not creating anything new. Aurangzeb moved his court to the district for same.

5 Grishneshwar Temple : One of the Jyotirlingas as per Shiv Purana, this ancient temple was repeatedly destroyed by Muslims but finally rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar. Every trace of terrorists like Aurangzeb must be removed from such sacred land.6

6 The name Sambhajinagar, after Sambhaji Maharaj, who gave his life for Dharma is an apt recovery of OUR cultural space. Maharashtra reveres Sambhaji Maharaj, not Aurangzeb. Words and names are important. Aurangzeb spent 27 yrs in Maharashtra but as a terrorist, not a hero.

End