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NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued a gazette renaming Islampur in Sangli as Ishwarpur and Islampur Nagar Parisad as Urun Ishwarpur Nagar Parishad.The Central government’s national mapping agency, Survey of India, in October officially approved the renaming of Islampur to Ishwarpur, marking a significant step toward formalising the town’s new identity.On July 18, 2025, the state government had passed the municipality’s proposal to rename Islampur as ‘Ishwarpur’ in the legislative assembly and forwarded it to the Union government for final clearance. On October 14, the Survey of India issued an ordinance confirming the name change.Following this approval, directives were issued to the Indian Post Department and Indian Railways to update the city’s name across their systems and offices. This renaming aligns with a broader trend in Maharashtra, where cities like Aurangabad, Osmanabad and Ahmednagar have recently been renamed to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dharashiv and Ahilyanagar, respectively.The announcement sparked celebrations in Ishwarpur, with residents distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers to mark the occasion. Many residents viewed the change as a victory after years of campaigning. Having said that, public opinion remained divided on the name change.Satish Godase, a resident, expressed support, has said, “This decision restores our historical and cultural identity. From now on, we will use ‘Ishwarpur’ in all our official and personal dealings.”In contrast, Manoj Jadhav, another resident, voiced concerns, saying: “We asked for better roads, reliable water supply, and sustainable development. Instead, we got a new name. I’ve lived in Islampur all my life, and the name was never an issue.”
