The Arunachal Pradesh government’s decision to name the newly constructed road connecting Damsite and Model Village in Naharlagun as Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Road has sparked public debate, with local residents and political groups questioning the move.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the 4-km road on July 6, officially naming it after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. However, many residents said the road has traditionally been known as Kangkra Putu and alleged that the renaming was carried out without consulting the local community.
The issue quickly gained traction on social media, where several users expressed surprise over the decision. The Indian Youth Congress also criticised the move, arguing that Dr Mookerjee had no direct contribution to Arunachal Pradesh and that the road should instead have been named after a prominent personality from the state.
Several local residents echoed similar sentiments, saying Arunachal Pradesh has many leaders and public figures whose contributions to the state’s development deserve recognition.
“The road has always been known as Kangkra Putu. The name was changed suddenly without consulting local people,” a resident said.
Another resident questioned why the government chose the name of a national leader instead of honouring an Arunachali personality who had contributed to the state’s growth.
The road connects Damsite with Model Village and was constructed in two phases, with one section built by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the other by the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC). The area falls under Ward 16, represented by IMC Mayor Likha Nari Tadar.
Defending the government’s decision, Tadar said Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s contributions to India’s freedom movement and post-Independence political history are well recognised. He also noted that Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The road’s renaming has since triggered a wider public discussion over balancing recognition of national leaders with preserving local history and identity.
