As the political heat intensifies in Kerala’s Wayanad district, the state BJP president K Surendran has sparked controversy by calling for the renaming of Sulthan Bathery to its old name, GanapathyVattom. Surendran, who is also the party’s nominee for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, argued that the name change is necessary as Sulthan Bathery got its name from Tipu Sultan’s invasion, which led to the destruction of Hindu and Christian communities.
“Everyone knows that GanapatiVattom was the place’s name even before Tipu Sulthan’s arrival. I just repeated it. Before Tipu’s appearance, the name Sulthan Bathery did not exist. That good place should not be known by the name of an aggressor or someone who persuaded others to accept a particular religious or political belief, idea, or way of life,” Surendran stated.
The call for the name change has stirred reactions from various political outfits, including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Political historian Prof. C I Issac supported Surendran’s stance, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming the region’s lost identity.
The controversy surrounding the proposed name change sheds light on the historical significance of Sulthan Bathery and its ancient Ganesha temple. The region’s history, marked by Tipu Sultan’s invasion and the subsequent renaming under British rule as “Sulthan’s Battery,” has been a point of contention among different groups.
While the debate continues, the residents of Sulthan Bathery hope to preserve the sacred identity of GanapathyVattom and restore the historical heritage of the region. The proposed name change reflects a larger issue of historical revisionism and the need to confront past injustices with a more accurate perspective.
Image Source: hindupost.in
