- India renames 27 Arunachal Pradesh locations on official map.
- Move asserts local identity, counters China's territorial claims.
- Strategic places like Longju, Thag La Pass included.
In a major move amid ongoing tensions with China, India has renamed 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, with the new names reflecting the identity, history and regional significance of these places.
The updated names have been incorporated into India's official map. The move comes after China has repeatedly claimed Arunachal Pradesh as part of Tibet and attempted to rename areas in the Indian state. India has consistently rejected these claims, calling Arunachal Pradesh an integral part of the country.
Government Explains Reason Behind Renaming
The Government of India said the objective behind the renaming exercise is to ensure that places are recognised by their local identity and that people have better information about their historical and geographical significance.
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The government stated that the new names represent the region's cultural roots and public sentiment.
"Identifying them formally on the Survey of India map of Arunachal Pradesh is aimed at facilitating their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large," PTI quoted the statement.
27 Places Added With New Names On India’s Map
One of these places is Longju, which falls on the border near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, which has been a point of tension between the two countries. Chinese soldiers had intruded into the place in 1959 but then had to back off.
Strategic locations like Bisa Village, a high-altitude area dotted with crucial mountain passes like Dijo La, Riza La and Pukur La, also make it into the list. One of the most significant locations considered during the India-China war in 1962, Thag La Pass has also been marked.
The newly renamed places also include:
- Jairampur in Changlang district, a key gateway connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
- Shambhu Sarovar, a high-altitude lake.
- Bada Kundan and Chhota Kundan
- Dhanbari
- Preetnagar
- Teritnagar
- Ramnagar
- Jaswant Garh, named after Indian Army martyr Jaswant Singh Rawat.
- Sagar Padma
- Jyotinagar
- Baisakhi
- Tawang Road
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India Rejects China’s Renaming Attempts
China has previously issued names for parts of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territorial claims. India has repeatedly opposed these actions, maintaining that changing names cannot alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is a sovereign part of India.
The latest renaming exercise is aimed at strengthening the official recognition of the region’s geographical and cultural identity.