Indian city of Bangalore to be renamed Bengaluru
{{date|January 23, 2006}}
{{India}}Marking the growing trend in the rise of [[India]]n nationalism, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of [[Karnataka]], {{w|Dharam Singh}}, has announced that the state government will rename [[Bangalore]] to its pre-colonial name, Bengaluru, taking effect from November 1, 2006. The change was suggested by {{w|U. R. Ananthamurthy}}, best known  for winning the {{w|Jnanpith Award|Jnanpith literary award}}.

Many industrial leaders in Bangalore have declared opposition to this name change. "I am absolutely opposed to the name change. The Karnataka government should concentrate on spending money to bring about constructive change rather than wasting a huge amount of money in funding a petty, parochial political initiative," said {{w|Kiran Mazumdar Shaw}}, {{w|Biocon}} chairperson and managing director and India's richest woman, and also made a statement of possible explanation with the comment "The truth is that whenever a government considers itself weak in certain regions and thinks it is falling down, it whips up parochial sentiments.” She described the basis of her objection with the comment "Bangalore has a global brand name worth billions of dollars," and further stated that "As it is the Karnataka government says it is short of funds. Why waste it on meaningless things?"

Bangalore has a reputation as "India's Silicon Valley."

Other cities to be renamed recently were [[Chennai]] (formerly Madras), [[Mumbai]] (formerly Bombay), and [[Kolkata]] (formerly Calcutta).

The move follows other cities in India being reverted to their traditional Indian names, following independence from the [[United Kingdom]].

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== Sister links ==
{{sisters
|w|Renaming of cities in India
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== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060108/asp/nation/story_5695225.asp
|title=Bengaluru? Wrecks global brand name - Biotech boss slams name 
|author=Garima Singh
|pub=The Telegraph (Calcutta)
|date=January 8, 2006}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.centralchronicle.com/20051226/2612305.htm
|title=State Pulse: Karnataka: From 'Bangalore' to Bengaluru 
|author=
|pub=Central Chronicle
|date=December 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/11blore.htm
|title=Bangalore to be re-named Bengaluru
|author=
|pub=Rediff
|date=December 11,2005}}
*{{source|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1327480.cms
|title=Exit Bangalore, enter Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai 
|author=
|pub=Times News Network
|date=December 11, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.expresspharmapulse.com/20050505/inthenews02.shtml
|title=Biotech needs Centre’s fiscal dose: Kiran Shaw
|author=
|pub=Pharma Pulse
|date=May 5, 2005}}

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[[Category:India]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Karnataka]]
Marking the growing trend in the rise of Indian nationalism, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Karnataka, U. R. Ananthamurthy, best known  for winning the Jnanpith literary award.

Many industrial leaders in Bangalore have declared opposition to this name change. "I am absolutely opposed to the name change. The Karnataka government should concentrate on spending money to bring about constructive change rather than wasting a huge amount of money in funding a petty, parochial political initiative," said Biocon chairperson and managing director and India's richest woman, and also made a statement of possible explanation with the comment "The truth is that whenever a government considers itself weak in certain regions and thinks it is falling down, it whips up parochial sentiments.” She described the basis of her objection with the comment "Bangalore has a global brand name worth billions of dollars," and further stated that "As it is the Karnataka government says it is short of funds. Why waste it on meaningless things?"

Bangalore has a reputation as "India's Silicon Valley."

Other cities to be renamed recently were Chennai (formerly Madras), Mumbai (formerly Bombay), and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).

The move follows other cities in India being reverted to their traditional Indian names, following independence from the United Kingdom.
India Asia Politics and conflicts Economy and business Bengaluru Karnataka