Welcome to the new office of Gurugram police commissioner

The state’s decision to rename the district got a big push on Sunday though social activists and corporate firms are contesting the decision when Gurgaon police switched its name to Gurugram police.

The state’s decision to rename the district got a big push on Sunday though social activists and corporate firms are contesting the decision when Gurgaon police switched its name to Gurugram police. There could not have been a more suitable occasion for the switch than Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s inaugurating the new office of the commissioner of police on Sunday.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar speaks at the inauguration of the new police commissioner’s office on Sunday. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The official invitation for the event, the event banner, and the inauguration plaque read ‘Office of Police Commissioner, Gurugram’.

As per the official procedure, such a name change officially comes into effect after the approval of the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA). After the MHA gives the nod, the state government releases a notification of name change.

“It is understood that the proposal for name change of a district or a village is sent to the MHA and it comes into effect only after the ministry’s nod,” former chief secretary of Haryana, MC Gupta, said.

However, a senior official in Gurgaon district administration said there is no official communiqué from the state government to start using Gurugram officially.

“The decision to use Gurugram for the function was used in consultation with senior police officials in Gurgaon. The state government has changed the name of the district to Gurgugram, so it can be used,” a senior police official, who did not wish to be named, said.

In his inaugural address, CM Khattar addressed the district as Gurgaon and Gurugram while some speakers even used ‘Gurgavan’.

The state cabinet cleared the proposal for the name change from Gurgaon to Gurugram on April 12, citing demands from various social fronts to restore the historic name of the area.

As per Hindu mythology, the area derived its name when Pandvas and Kauravas -- princes from the Mahabharata era -- donated land to Dronacharya, who was the archery teacher of the royal family, as gurudakshina (teaching fee). The Guru trained the princes at this very place and used to live here.