Public representatives and localites were demanding change of names for a long time
State Government has taken the decision to honour the sentiments of localites
Raipur / Honouring the sentiments of the localites, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has given instructions to change the names of three places in the state. As per the instructions of Chief Minister, Chandkhuri, Giraudpuri and Sonakhan will now be renamed after the great personas and spiritual figures of the area.
Chandkhuri will be known as Mata Kaushalya Dham Chandkhuri, Giraudpuri will be renamed as Baba Guru Ghasidas Dham Giraudpuri and Sonakhan will be called Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Dham Sonakhan.
Many public representatives and localites have been demanding change of these names in aforementioned way for a long time. State Government would soon publish notification regarding renaming of these three places in gazette.
Today, Parliamentary Secretaries Mr. Chandradev Rai, Mr. Gurudayal Singh Banjare, Mr. Indershah Mandavi, Mr. U.D. Minj and MLAs Mr. Brihaspat Singh, Mr. Gulab Singh Kamro and Dr. Vinay Jaiswal had submitted their letter in this regard to Chief Minister, urging him to change the names of Giraudpuri and Sonakhan according to the public sentiments.
Rajeshri Dr. Mahant Ramsunder Das, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Gauseva Aayog, had also written a letter to the Chief Minister on July 28 i.e. on the day of Hareli Tihaar, requesting to rename Chandkhuri as Mata Kaushalyadham Chandkhuri.
Taking a quick decision on these demands, Chief Minister has given instructions for new naming of these places. The only Kaushalya temple in the world is situated in Chandkhuri, adjacent to Raipur.
There Lord Shri Ram is seated in his child form along with Mata Kaushalya. Chhattisgarh is considered to be the birthplace of Mata Kaushalya and ‘nanihaal’ of Shri Ram.
The state government has renovated the Mata Kaushalya temple, located in the middle of the pond, and has also beautified the pond. This renovation of Chandkhuri, the center of reverence for lakhs of people of the country and the state, was renovated under the project of Shri Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit.
A giant statue of Lord Shri Ram has also been established here near the pond. Located in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, Giroudpuri is the center of faith for lakhs of followers of Satnam Panth.
This is the birthplace and tapobhoomi of Baba Guru Ghasidas. For a long time, Satnami Samaj and the localites here have been demanding to rename Giroudpuri as Baba Guru Ghasidas Dham Giroudpuri.
Chief Minister has fulfilled this much awaited demand today. Sonakhan area in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district is known for the valour of Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, the first martyr of Chhattisgarh in the first freedom struggle of 1857.
After his arrest by the British, he was hanged on 10 December 1857 at Jaistambh Chowk in Raipur. To honour the struggle and sacrifices of Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh for the poor and oppressed, local public representatives had been demanding addition of Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh’s name to the name of Sonakhan area for a long time.
Now, with the renaming of the area as per public sentiments, the valor and sacrifices of Shaheed Veernarayan Singh of Binjhwar tribe will always be remembered.