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The place, meanwhile, has retained its earlier name in popular lingo and commonplace scenarios.
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The carpet manufacturers of Sant Ravi Das Nagar have met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, demanding that the district’s name be reverted to its old name — Bhadohi. They have pointed out the difficulties in doing business owing to their product — carpets — being more famously associated with the district’s former name.
“The Geographical Indication tag accorded to our products is ‘hand-made carpets of Bhadohi’. The Intellectual Property rights are also in the name of Bhadohi. (Both these facilities protect and help develop a brand for the flagging carpet industry). It is Bhadohi carpets that are famous worldwide. So it makes sense to retain the old name of the place,” Secretary of All-India Carpet Manufacturers’ Association (AICMA), Tanvir Hussain told The Indian Express over phone.
Sant Ravi Das Nagar, before being carved out as the 65th district of UP on June 30, 1994, used to be part of Varanasi as Bhadohi. The then BSP government of Mayawati named the new district, which has since remained an issue for the carpet weavers who, in 2010, had their GI tag issued, too, under the old name.
“A delegation of our association, led by president Vinay Kapoor, met the CM on July 7 in Lucknow. Bhadohi MLA (from Samajwadi Party) Zahid Beg was also with us. We demanded that the district be named back to what it was before as it is causing problems in our businesses,” Hussain said.
The place, meanwhile, has retained its earlier name in popular lingo and commonplace scenarios. In official communications, however, it finds mention as SRD Nagar.
“Old timers still use Bhadohi in daily communications. But it is new entrants to our business base, particularly those outside the country, who tend to get confused. Also, GI tag is an official initiative. Therefore, a different name leads to confusion or even disputes,” Hussain said. He claimed that Akhilesh, during the meeting, has assured that he will promptly consider the matter.
When the ruling SP government took charge in 2012, it renamed eight districts that the Mayawati government had changed during its regime. Interestingly, SRD Nagar, too, was on the list along with other eight – Amethi (BSP had named it Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar), Kanpur Dehat (Ramabai Nagar), Sambhal (Bheem Nagar), Shamli (Prabuddha Nagar) and Hapur (Panchsheel Nagar).
“Somehow, things did not work out for Bhadohi (SRD Nagar) then. We are hopeful that the change will now be brought soon,” said Hussain. While district magistrate N S Pandey could not be contacted, a spokesperson said that any official communication in this regard is awaited.
Former president of AICMA, Omkar Nath Mishra, who quit recently after completing his two terms, said: “This issue (of name change) was earlier discussed with local representatives. A few letters, too, were written to the government. Nothing much happened though.”
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Prashant Pandey / Lucknow – July 16th, 2014