The purpose behind naming localities and educational institutes behind historical figures seems defeated as people find their abbreviations much more convenient rather than the real name.
Named after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, who had laid down his life for the country at the age of 23, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar is conveniently called SBS Nagar, whereas Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University is more popular as GADVASU.
Similarly, Bhai Randhir Singh, which was named after the one of greatest Sikh preachers who orgininally belonged to Narangwal village on the periphery of Ludhiana, is now called BRS Nagar.
The short forms of names of localities are also in practice in government offices and newspapers. The main reason behind use of abbreviated forms is that the real names are too big to write and pronounce.
"The purpose of giving localities names of famous social and political personalities is that that people remember their contribution and follow their path, but the purpose is defeated when we call the short forms," feels Punjabi Sahit Akademy chief Gurbhajan Singh Gill.
He said people show disrespect to the personalities when they use abbreviated forms of their names. "Atleast, the trend should be discouraged in government departments," he demanded.
Harpreet Singh, the public relations officer at GADVASU, said that every name has its own sanctity. "Ludhiana is full of migrant population. If we use Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, there is automatically an urge to know who Bhai Randhir Singh was and people would know about him. BRS Nagar would not raise any such curiosity," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Harpreet Singh, the public relations officer at GADVASU, said that every name has its own sanctity. "Ludhiana is full of migrant population. If we use Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, there is automatically an urge to know who Bhai Randhir Singh was and people would know about him. BRS Nagar would not raise any such curiosity," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Even the guide maps and boards conveniently use the short forms. Named after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, the area is famous as Sarabha Nagar, whereas the locality named after Maharishi Valmiki is better known as Rishi Nagar.