Mustafabad to Kabirdham: Yogi Adityanath announces name change; says it restores Sant Kabir’s legacy

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday that his government will propose renaming Mustafabad village in Lakhimpur Kheri district to 'Kabirdham', stating that the change would restore the area's historical and cultural connection to Sant Kabir. The announcement was made during the "Smriti Mahotsav Mela 2025" event.

Adityanath expressed surprise upon learning that Mustafabad had no Muslim residents despite its name.

"When I asked about this village, I was told its name is Mustafabad. I asked how many Muslims live here, and I was told there are none. Then I said the name should be changed. It should be called Kabirdham," he told the gathering.




The chief minister confirmed his government would initiate the formal proposal process for the name change.

"We will bring the proposal and take it forward. This is about restoring the honour of a place associated with Sant Kabir's legacy," he stated.

Adityanath drew parallels between this initiative and his government's previous renaming efforts.

"Those who ruled earlier renamed Ayodhya as Faizabad, Prayagraj as Allahabad, and Kabirdham as Mustafabad. Our government is reversing that -- restoring Ayodhya, restoring Prayagraj, and now reviving Kabirdham to its rightful name," he said.

The BJP-led government is focusing on developing religious and cultural sites across the state.

"We have said every pilgrimage site should be beautified. Facilities for devotees such as rest houses and shelters should be built, and through the tourism and culture departments, we are reviving every major site of faith -- be it Kashi, Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Naimisharanya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Barsana, Gokul or Govardhan," Adityanath explained.

He noted a shift in the allocation of public funds compared to previous administrations.

"Earlier, this money used to go for constructing boundary walls of 'kabristan' (graveyards). Now it is being used to develop our centres of faith and heritage," he remarked.

The chief minister emphasized his government's commitment to preserving cultural identity.

"This is the spirit of belongingness, a revival of our civilisational identity. The government will continue to work towards restoring the glory of sites that reflect India's spiritual and cultural roots," he added.

The name change proposal aligns with the government's broader initiative to restore what they consider the original names of places that were changed by previous rulers.


(With agency inputs)