December 02, 2005

Renaming of Lohegaon Airport(Air Force Base), Pune

Recently our MP (who never seems to be in the city or concerned about the city's problems actually) suddenly surfaces and comes up with an announcement that the Lohegaon Airport be renamed after Chhatrapati Shahu (of Kolhapur). Even the Minister for Civil Aviation has agreed. Some other groups are turning up, suggesting to rename the airport after Mahatma Phule or the Peshwas, Saint Dyaneshwar or Tukaram, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, etc. How many people know our history? The names of these great people are just used, as we all know who benefits from them. How many people actually respect their ideologies and go by it or preach it? No one actually does. This is an insult to their names and their work.

In addition, why most of the things in India should be named after politicians or people related to politics. Is it a rule or what? The politicians are or were not the only ones present in the country. There are many great people in various fields and have done much greater work than the politicians have. As for Pune, it has a large number of great personalities not related to politics, after whom the airport can be renamed like P.L. Deshpande, Shantanurao Kirloskar, Dr. B.V. Rao, R.G Bhandarkar, and many more.

Well the debate should stop. Why don't we keep the name of the airport as it is or as far name it ‘Pune International Airport’? Who in the world is going to remember where 'Chhatrapati Shahu International Airport' is apart from us? Where as ‘Pune International Airport’ will be instantly recognized by anyone. Pune is well known all over the world, let us keep the identity of our city intact. We, the citizens of Pune, should decide not the politicians.


(Originally published in the Maharashtra Herald, on Sunday 27th November 2005.)

1 Comments:

Blogger PRITISH said...

Amey i agree to you ....that its not necessary to name airports behind politicians ...but lets take Charled De gaulle...its famous .....well but Pune international is still better ...and if anyone to name Airports shud be there ...its gotta be the martyrs of the Indian Army , Air force ......

We study about our freedom struggle ...the names were glorious back then and even today ...but what about the brave souls dying everyday fighting for our country ...look at the apathy ...they find space in NEWS DIGEST and not even a proper article ....
we gotta respect heroes that live rather than extra glorifying leaders that left us behind....
iam not saying lets forget our freedom fighters ....offcourse they are very important but what about the next generation ?

11:38 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home