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Indore(Team Newsbuddy): A renewed debate over the renaming of Indore’s historic Residency Kothi has captured attention as descendants of 1857 martyr Saadat Khan call for the landmark to bear his name in tribute to his legacy. This 200-year-old structure, a pivotal site of resistance during India\u2019s First War of Independence, is at the center of a dispute following a decision by Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava and the Mayor-in-Council (MIC) on October 18 to rename it Shivaji Kothi, commemorating the courage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The decision sparked fresh appeals, with the social organization \u201cPunyashlok\u201d advocating for the name Devi Ahilyabai Kothi in honor of Ahilyabai Holkar, the revered ruler of the Holkar dynasty of Indore. Members of the organization even placed a banner with her name outside Residency Kothi\u2019s main gate, reigniting public interest in Indore\u2019s heritage and its commemorations.
Rizwan Khan, a descendant of Saadat Khan, expressed his family\u2019s longstanding wish for recognition, noting that Khan\u2019s martyrdom remains a vital part of Residency Kothi\u2019s legacy. \u201cWe fully honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Devi Ahilyabai, but Saadat Khan\u2019s sacrifice is integral to the history of Residency Kothi,\u201d said Khan. \u201cIt was here that he led local revolutionaries to defy British rule, only to be executed on these grounds. We believe the name should reflect his sacrifice.\u201d
Adding to the voices in support, Shaheen Awais Bahadur, a descendant of the royal family of Banda, UP, recounted her ancestor\u2019s involvement in Saadat Khan\u2019s burial and appealed for a public space in Indore to honor him. \u201cAt least one landmark should carry his name so that future generations remember his courage,\u201d said Bahadur, who serves as president of the women\u2019s committee of the Hindavi Swarajya Mahasangh.
Mayor Bhargava explained the renaming as a move to \u201cerase the mark of colonial subjugation\u201d and inspire Indore\u2019s citizens with the valor of historical figures like Shivaji Maharaj. While emphasizing the importance of honoring every freedom fighter, he left the door open for naming another place in the city after Saadat Khan.
Historian Zafar Ansari recounted Residency Kothi\u2019s colonial origins, noting it was built in 1820 by the East India Company as a British administrative center for central India. \u201cIn a historic act of defiance, Saadat Khan led a force of local rebels to storm Residency Kothi on July 1, 1857, taking down the British flag and raising that of the Holkar state,\u201d Ansari said. \u201cAlthough captured and executed in 1874, his legacy remains woven into this landmark.\u201d
The debate highlights a broader question about how Indore should preserve and honor its history\u2014whether through the names of colonial-era buildings or new recognitions for those who fought for freedom. As the public continues to weigh in, the Residency Kothi\u2019s new name stands as a reminder of both India\u2019s struggle for independence and the complex narratives that shape its heritage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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