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Lansdowne to be renamed Jaswantgarh

4th July, 2023

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Context

  • The town was named after Lord Lansdowne.
  • Now a decision to change the name of town has been taken by Lansdowne Cantonment Board.
  • Proposed name for this hill station is Jaswantgarh.

Lord Lansdowne

  • He was a british politician also known as Henry Charles Keith Petty-Firzmaurice.
  • During 1888 to 1894, he served as Viceroy of India.
  • After this he also served as the Governor General of Canada.
  • In UK, He was the Leader of the House of Lords and also served as secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
  • He is given credit for supressing Manipur Rebellion of 1891.
  • He also perpetuated divide and rule policy and promoted Hindu-Muslim divide.

Lansdowne Cantonment

  • This cantonment is located in the district of Pauri Garhwal of Uttarakhand
  • In 1886, a decision to raise a separate Regiment of the Garhwalis was taken on the recommendation of Commander-in-Chief India.
  • Kalundanda, a forest area 6,000 feet above sea level was selected as a Cantonment site and centre for the training of Garhwal Rifles.
  • In 1887, Subsequently First Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles moved into Kalundanda.
  • In 1890, this place was named Lansdowne after Lord Henry Lansdowne.
  • It has a total area of 1503.8 acres and a population of 5,667 civilians and military personnel.
  • It is a Category III cantonment.

Rifleman Jaswant Singh

  • Rifleman Jaswantgarh, a member of 4th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, is a war hero of 1962 war and a recipient of Maha Vir Chakra.
  • He was awarded the second highest gallantry award due to his role against the People's Liberation Army of China in Battle of Nuranang during 1962 war
  • The battle was fought in the North-East Frontier Agency, current Arunachal Pradesh.
  • During an attack involving Chinese medium machine gun, he volunteered to fight and seized this medium machine gun.
  • In the process he neutralised the Chinese detachment of five sentries but injured seriously.
  • He finally succumbed to his injuries and posthumously awarded Maha Vir Chakra.

Must Read Article:

Lord Lansdowne

https://www.iasgyan.in/ig-uploads/pdf/info_viceroys.pdf

PRACTICE QUESTION

There are increasing instances of changing the name of a place. How significant is the practice of changing the name of a place? Critically Analyze.   

(150 Words)

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/lansdowne-renamed-jaswantgarh-history-8698660/