ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Renaming of cities in India

So you know how we call people by their names like John, Jane or Christina? Just like that, cities also have names like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai or Kolkata. But sometimes, these names can change just like when we call someone by a nickname or a new name altogether.

In India, some cities have gone through a process of changing their names, which means they now have a new name. This happens when the government decides that the current name of a city is not suitable anymore, or they want to honor someone or something important.

When this decision is made, it is announced to the public so everyone knows that the city will be getting a new name. The government then goes through a process of changing all the official documents, maps, and signs that have the old city name on it.

For example, the city of Mumbai was previously known as Bombay, but it was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995. This was done to reflect the city's Marathi roots and its local culture. Similarly, the city of Bangalore was changed to Bengaluru, to honor the city's Kannada origins.

Many people may still call the city by its old name, but it's important to respect the new name because it represents the culture and heritage of the city.