Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra will now officially named Ahilyanagar. The Union Home Ministry has given approval for the name change, state revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said on Friday.
Ahilyanagar is the biggest district in the western state in terms of geographical area.
Speaking to reporters, he said the decision to rename Ahmednagar was taken by the state cabinet in March this year and was sought from the Centre.
The new name is based on the 18th-century ruler of Indore (in Madhya Pradesh), Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar, the legendary Holkar-queen of the Maratha-Malwa kingdom who hailed from the district.
Born Chaundi in Ahmednagar district, Ahilyabai Holkar (May 31, 1725 – August 13, 1795) was a great pioneer and involved in several social causes and helped build hundreds of temples and dharamshalas throughout India. After the demise of her husband and father-in-law, Ahilyabai Holkar herself undertook the affairs of the Holkar dynasty. She defended the Malwa state against intruders and personally led armies into battle. A prominent and influential figure of Indian history, Ahilyabai is regarded as one of the most visionary female rulers of the country.
Earlier, the Eknath Shinde government had changed the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively.