Well-known Urdu poet Akbar Allahabadi's suffixes were changed from “Allahabadi” to “Prayagraj” on Tuesday after an apparent hack, Indian media reported.
The name of the poet as Akbar Prayagraj appeared on the website of the Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Service Commission (UPHESC). A press release issued by UPHECS deputy secretary Shiv Ji Malviya after the issue led to the furore, said that the website had been hacked and the change of name of the legendary poet Akbar ‘Allahabadi’ to Akbar ‘Prayagraji’ was misleading.
“The commission has not entered any such name on its website. It is being rectified,” read the press release. The UPHESC’s communique further said, an inquiry from the cyber cell is being sought and strict legal action would be taken against those who have done it.
The furore:
The alleged 'snafu' left many livid. Social media users lashed out and called the change in the name an attempt to rewrite history.
"Why Wikipedia has changed renowned Urdu poet Akbar Allahabadi's name as Akbar Prayagraji? His original name must be restored forthwith," a user shared.
Why @Wikipedia has changed renowned Urdu poet #AkbarAllahabadi's name as Akbar Prayagraji? His original name must be restored forthwith.
— India Muslim History (@syedurahman) December 28, 2021
Another added, "How can you change somebody’s individual identity so arbitrarily. Name constitutes the core of that identity. I wanna known to be Azhar Madison, and since Madison does not exist in India so you will change it to Mathura."
How can you change somebody’s individual identity so arbitrarily. Name constitute core of that identity.
— Azhar Ali, Ph.D. (@Azhar_ind) December 30, 2021
I wanna known to be Azhar Madison, and since Madison does not exists in India so you will change it to Mathura. #AkbarAllahabadi pic.twitter.com/1Qt0R52uD9
One more shared, "UP govt also changed Allahabadi takhallus (pen-name) of poets into Prayagraj. On its website, UP Higher Education Services Commission wrote the names of Akbar Allahabadi, Rashid Allahabadi and Tegh Allahabadi as Akbar Prayagraj, Rashid Prayagraj and Tegh Prayagraj."
UP govt also changed Allahabadi takhallus (pen-name) of poets into Prayagraj. On its website, UP Higher Education Services Commission wrote the names of Akbar Allahabadi, Rashid Allahabadi and Tegh Allahabadi as Akbar Prayagraj, Rashid Prayagraj and Tegh Prayagraj. pic.twitter.com/kTHa0P1KLy
— Waquar Hasan (@WaqarHasan1231) December 28, 2021
Picking an excerpt from an article, one more user shared, '“The Prayagraj-based UPHESC on its official website has updated the name of the Urdu poet Syed Akbar Hussain, popularly known as Akbar Allahabadi, to Akbar Prayagraj.' Historical revisionism goes to the next level in India’s most populous state."
“The Prayagraj-based UPHESC on its official website has updated the name of the Urdu poet Syed Akbar Hussain, popularly known as Akbar Allahabadi, to Akbar Prayagraj.”
— Uzair Younus عُزیر یُونس (@UzairYounus) December 28, 2021
Historical revisionism goes to the next level in India’s most populous state. https://t.co/AQUkkvjGAf
Another tweep pointed out, "India has become completely a rogue and Hindu extremist nation. They have even changed Akbar Allahabadi’s name to Akbar Prayagraj. A sure downfall of India."
India has become completely a rogue and Hindu extremist nation. They have even changed Akbar Allahabadi’s name to Akbar Prayagraj. A sure downfall of India. pic.twitter.com/KzTjO0aEr0
— Fätima (@Kan__Fatima) December 29, 2021
'Changing the history'
The names of some other poets have also been changed on the website. Rashid Allahabadi and Tegh Allahabadi were mentioned as “Tegh Prayagraji” and “Rashid Prayagraji”.
Reacting to the incident, Prayagraj-based journalist Dhananjay Chopra, also a noted litterateur, said the city of Allahabad is recorded in the pages of history.
“The writers and poets like Akbar Allahabadi and Rasheed Allahabadi have lived in the city, experiencing its life and times and that is why they suffixed their names with Allahabadi. Changing the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj is akin to changing the history,” he asserted.
Official complaint filed
Meanwhile, the Hindi website of the commission has been restored and work is on to restore the English portal. A complaint about the incident has been lodged with the police’s cyber cell to nab the culprits. The UPHESC, an autonomous body under the state government, is responsible for appointing principals and assistant teachers in 331 government-aided colleges in the state.
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