In the heart of modern India stands a city whose story stretches back millennia, weaving together myth, conquest, empire, and nationhood. On 25 February 2026, a fresh chapter unfolded when BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the renaming of Delhi to Indraprastha. Citing the recent approval of Kerala’s shift to “Keralam,” the MP argued that restoring the ancient name would reconnect the national capital with its deepest civilisational roots from the Mahabharata era. He also suggested renaming Old Delhi Railway Station to Indraprastha Junction and Indira Gandhi International Airport to Indraprastha Airport, while proposing statues of the Pandavas near Purana Qila. A similar call came weeks later in the Delhi Assembly from BJP MLA Poonam Sharma. These proposals have reignited passionate debates about identity, heritage, and the history of Delhi as Indraprastha. Yet, to truly appreciate why such a move resonates, one must trace the complete arc—from its legendary origins to its role today as the beating heart of Indian governance.

This article delves deeply into the history of Delhi, illuminating how Indraprastha evolved into the seat of sultans, Mughals, British viceroys, and finally the Republic of India. We examine its significance not merely as a political centre but as a symbol of resilience, cultural fusion, and enduring national unity.

The story of Delhi begins not with stone and mortar but with fire and destiny in the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. Indraprastha, meaning “Plain of Indra” or “City of Indra,” was the magnificent capital established by the Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—after they were exiled from Hastinapura by their Kaurava cousins. Guided by Lord Krishna and aided by the divine architect Maya Danava (also known as Mayasura), the Pandavas cleared the dense Khandava forest on the banks of the Yamuna River. In its place rose a splendid fortified city, complete with palaces, gardens, and the legendary assembly hall that sparked the jealousy leading to the great war.

Hindu beliefs hold Indraprastha as far more than a geographical location; it embodies dharma, righteous rule, and the triumph of good over evil. The city’s creation symbolises the Pandavas’ quest to establish a just kingdom amid adversity. References in the epic describe it as one of five villages demanded by the Pandavas to avert war—Indraprastha, along with others like Svarnaprastha (modern Sonipat). When Duryodhana refused even “a needle-point of land,” the stage was set for the Kurukshetra battle. Buddhist texts further mention it as Indapatta, capital of the Kuru Mahajanapada, underscoring its prominence in ancient Indian lore.

Archaeological evidence lends weight to these legends. Excavations at Purana Qila—the “Old Fort” in central Delhi—have uncovered Painted Grey Ware pottery dating to around 1200 BCE, aligning with the Vedic period associated with the Mahabharata. A village called Indarpat or Indrapat survived inside the fort walls until the early 20th century. While grand structures matching the epic’s descriptions remain elusive, ongoing digs by the Archaeological Survey of India continue to reveal layers of continuous settlement from the Mauryan era onward. In Hindu consciousness, Indraprastha represents the cradle of Indian civilisation, a reminder that Delhi’s history of Delhi as Indraprastha predates recorded empires by centuries. It is a living link to the values of justice and resilience that continue to shape national identity.

After the Mahabharata era, the region saw successive waves of settlement. By the 8th century CE, the Tomara Rajputs, under Anangpal Tomar, established a capital called Dhillika or Dilli around 1052 CE. Anangpal is credited with building the Anangpur Dam and laying the foundations of what would become the first of Delhi’s many “cities.” His dynasty ruled until the late 12th century, when the Chauhan Rajputs under Prithviraj III conquered the area, renaming the stronghold Qila Rai Pithora.

This period marked Delhi’s emergence as a strategic Rajput stronghold, prized for its location on the Yamuna plains, offering both defence and trade routes. Yet, the arrival of Central Asian forces changed everything. In 1192, Muhammad of Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan at the Second Battle of Tarain. His general, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, laid the groundwork for Muslim rule in northern India, signalling the end of Rajput dominance and the dawn of the Delhi Sultanate.

The history of Delhi truly crystallised as a political capital with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate in 1206. Aibak, a former slave who rose to power, became the first Sultan and initiated grand construction projects, including the Qutub Minar—originally a victory tower—and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, built using materials from 27 demolished Jain and Hindu temples. Successive dynasties—the Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, and Lodis—expanded the city, each adding new townships and forts.

Alauddin Khalji fortified Siri, while Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted the capital temporarily to Daulatabad before returning, highlighting Delhi’s gravitational pull. Firoz Shah Tughlaq built Firozabad and transported ancient Ashokan pillars to the city. The Sultanate era transformed Delhi into a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub, attracting scholars, poets, and artisans from across the Islamic world. However, it was also marked by turmoil: Timur’s devastating sack in 1398 left the city in ruins, killing tens of thousands and crippling its economy.

Despite invasions, Delhi endured as the political nerve centre of northern India. Its strategic position—guarding the northern plains while commanding trade routes to Central Asia—made it indispensable. The Delhi Sultanate era laid the administrative and architectural foundations that later rulers would build upon, cementing Delhi’s reputation as a city of power.

The Mughal era elevated Delhi to unparalleled grandeur. Babur’s victory over Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 ended the Sultanate and ushered in Mughal rule. While early emperors like Akbar preferred Agra or Fatehpur Sikri, Shah Jahan made Delhi the permanent seat of the empire in 1638. He constructed Shahjahanabad—the seventh city of Delhi, known today as Old Delhi—complete with the majestic Red Fort (Lal Qila) and the sprawling Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques.

Under the Mughals, Delhi became synonymous with opulence. The Peacock Throne, Koh-i-Noor diamond, and exquisite gardens reflected the empire’s zenith. Poets like Mirza Ghalib later immortalised its charm during its decline. Aurangzeb was crowned in Delhi, but later Mughal weakness invited invasions: Nadir Shah’s sack in 1739 looted treasures and killed over 30,000, while Maratha and Afghan forces vied for control.

Yet, Shah Jahan’s vision endured. Delhi served as the Mughal capital for nearly two centuries because of its central location, historical prestige, and symbolic continuity with earlier empires. The Mughal emperors Delhi phase fused Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles, creating the layered heritage visible today in landmarks like Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort—now UNESCO World Heritage sites.

British influence began in earnest after the 1803 Battle of Delhi, when the East India Company defeated the Marathas and reduced the Mughal emperor to a figurehead. The 1857 Revolt saw Delhi as a focal point of resistance, with Bahadur Shah Zafar proclaimed emperor before British recapture and his exile.

The pivotal moment came in 1911 at the Delhi Durbar, when King George V announced the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Reasons were both practical and symbolic: Delhi’s central geography facilitated governance over a vast subcontinent; its proximity to princely states eased administration; and its ancient imperial legacy lent legitimacy to British rule. Calcutta’s growing nationalist unrest, exacerbated by the 1905 Partition of Bengal, also prompted the shift. Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker designed New Delhi, inaugurated in 1931, with wide boulevards, the Viceroy’s House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan), and India Gate.

This move underscored Delhi’s enduring status as India’s political core, bridging colonial power with historical continuity.

On 15 August 1947, New Delhi became the capital of independent India. Partition brought massive migration, reshaping demographics as refugees poured in. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act of 1991 designated it the National Capital Territory of Delhi, granting a legislative assembly while retaining central oversight.

Today, the history of Delhi as capital of India manifests in its role housing Parliament, the Supreme Court, ministries, and foreign embassies. Every national policy, crisis, or celebration converges here—from Republic Day parades at Rajpath to high-stakes diplomatic summits.

Delhi’s location at the crossroads of northern India makes it the natural nerve centre. Government offices cluster in New Delhi, streamlining decision-making for a nation of 1.4 billion. It is the epicentre of policy on defence, economy, foreign affairs, and more. Issues ranging from agriculture to climate change find resolution—or debate—within its institutions.

Culturally, Delhi blends ancient temples, Mughal monuments, colonial architecture, and modern skyscrapers. Economically, it drives commerce, education (via universities like Delhi University and Indraprastha University), and tourism. Its significance transcends administration; it symbolises unity in diversity, a microcosm of India’s pluralistic soul.

According to Hindu beliefs, Delhi’s Indraprastha legacy reinforces its sacred status as a dharmic seat. For Mughals and later rulers, it represented legitimacy. In the democratic era, it embodies the world’s largest democracy.

From Indraprastha’s mythical halls to today’s Secretariat buildings, Delhi has withstood invasions, sacks, and partitions precisely because of its centrality. It is where history meets governance: protests at Jantar Mantar, policy announcements from South Block, and global leaders at Hyderabad House. No other city commands such gravitational pull for “every national office and issue.”

As proposals to restore Indraprastha gain traction, they invite reflection: renaming would honour the history of Delhi without erasing its layered past. It would celebrate continuity rather than rupture.

The history of Delhi is not a linear tale but a tapestry of resilience. From Indraprastha’s flames in the Mahabharata to the Red Fort’s ramparts, from Sultanate minarets to Lutyens’ domes, and now as the Republic’s vibrant capital—Delhi has always been more than a city. It is India’s eternal anchor.

Whether or not the 25 February 2026 proposal materialises, Indraprastha lives on in memory and monuments. As India marches forward, Delhi stands ready—its past illuminating its future as the undisputed capital of a rising nation.