Badarpur to be renamed as Siddheshwar Dham: MLA’s Proposal Sparks Attention

A proposal by Katigorah MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha to create a new “Siddheshwar Dham Municipal Board” by merging suitable areas of Katigorah Gaon Panchayat with the existing Badarpur Municipal Board has sparked discussion over the future identity of the historic railway town.

The proposal was recently submitted to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. According to Purkayastha, the move is aimed at addressing the growing developmental needs of the region and improving urban infrastructure and civic amenities.

In his letter to the Chief Minister, the MLA stated that parts of Katigorah Gaon Panchayat have witnessed significant infrastructural development in recent years and have emerged as important semi-urban clusters with increasing population density. He argued that the proposed municipal board would support further urbanisation and help provide essential public services.

The proposal comes amid public discussions that have linked it to an earlier demand by Purkayastha to rename Badarpur Junction as “Siddeswar Railway Junction”. In October 2024, the MLA had argued that the Siddeswar Temple holds historical and cultural importance and that renaming the railway station would honour local traditions and the Barak Valley’s cultural heritage.

However, the contents of the latest letter suggest that the present proposal is for the creation of a new municipal board named “Siddheshwar Dham Municipal Board” through administrative reorganisation. The letter does not explicitly state that the town of Badarpur itself should be officially renamed.

The proposal has nevertheless drawn attention because of Badarpur’s long history and established identity. One of the oldest towns in the Barak Valley, Badarpur has been known by the same name for centuries and remains an important railway junction in southern Assam.

Historian Prof. B.R. Khan of Badarpur Nabinchandra College had earlier opposed the proposal to rename Badarpur Junction, arguing that it could erase an important part of the region’s history. He said the name “Badarpur” is believed to be derived from Shah Badaruddin, a disciple of the Sufi saint Shah Jalal, and pointed out that the name has appeared consistently in Mughal and British-era records, including the Badarpur Treaty of 6 March 1824 signed with Gobinda Chandra, the last ruler of Khaspur. Khan explained that renaming it would risk distorting historical continuity

No official decision has yet been announced by the Assam government regarding the proposal. It also remains unclear whether the proposal could eventually lead to changes in the official identity of Badarpur or is limited to the creation of a new municipal board.