Rename Nizamabad as Indur, proposes BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri; Nizam’s family fires back

Hyderabad: A fierce political and historical debate has erupted in Telangana following a proposal to rename Nizamabad district as ‘Indur.’

The move, spearheaded by local BJP leaders, has drawn a sharp legal and public rebuke from the family of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan.

BJP pledges restoration of ‘Indur’

Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri reignited the controversy by declaring that a BJP government would officially strip the district of its Nizam-associated name.

MP Arvind’s stance: Speaking to party workers and reporters, Arvind argued that the name ‘Nizamabad’ is a symbol of historical subjugation and suffering. He claimed that the original name of the city was Indur and that restoring it would aid in development and reflect ‘cultural pride and nationalist identity’.

He further announced that a resolution to rename the city would be adopted in the first general body meeting of the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation and forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Office.

State BJP support: Telangana BJP State President Ramchander Rao firmly backed the MP, affirming that renaming the district is a party pledge. Rao expanded the scope of the proposal, stating that many cities in Telangana still carry names from the Nizam era—a period he described as marked by ‘tyranny’ and ‘atrocities’—and argued these names must be changed to erase reminders of a ‘painful past’.

Nizam’s family fires back

In a statement issued on January 11, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of Nizam VII, condemned the remarks made by MP Arvind.

History as defense: Khan described the MP’s language as a ‘reckless distortion of history’ and an insult to the nation’s collective memory. He asserted that his grandfather’s reign (1911–1947) was a ‘golden era’ characterised by the Ganga-Jamna Tahzeeb (peaceful coexistence).

Legacy of infrastructure: The release highlighted the Nizam’s contributions, including the Nizam Sagar Dam and the Nizam Sugar Factory, which transformed the region into an agricultural and industrial hub. Khan argued that if these assets have deteriorated, the blame lies with successive modern governments, not the historical benefactor.

Legal warning: Khan unequivocally stated that any further defamatory references to Nizam VII would be viewed as a ‘deliberate provocation’ and suggested that constitutional office-holders should study history before speaking.

‘Polarising tactic for municipal elections’

The renaming proposal has faced stiff opposition from the Congress party.

Senior leader Hanumanth Rao accused the BJP of creating ‘unnecessary issues’ to divide the country and warned of potential law-and-order risks. Critics view the move as a polarising tactic ahead of upcoming municipal elections, while BJP leaders maintain they are merely honouring indigenous roots over ‘feudal legacies’.