For a long time, there has been a demand to change the names of the areas to such names which were associated with a particular religion. The names of many localities and cities have also been changed.

In such a situation, there is now a demand to change the name of railway stations in Jharkhand on grounds of the local language of the people living in areas of the railway station. 

This demand has been raised by JMM supremo Shibu Soren. In a letter to Railway Minister, Soren has told him that in the recent past names of railway stations written in Bengali were changed.

Soren’s demand is part of his ruling party JMM’s move to appease people who speak tribal and Bengali language who constitute over 30 percent population of Jharkhand.

Against this background, in view of the sentiments of local Bengali and regional language-speaking people, Soren has requested the Railway Minister to put up display boards carrying names of stations in Bengali and/or local languages.

A decision toward this end is taken in consultation with the government of Jharkhand. A copy of Soren’s letter was forwarded to CM Hemant Soren.

In his letter, Soren apprised the Railway Minister that the railway land falling in Jharkhand was part of Bengal's presidency till 1912 when it became part of Bihar. After Bihar was divided and Jharkhand was established in 2022, the railway stations came under the jurisdiction of this state.

Citing examples, Soren informed the railway minister that the names of stations such as Pakur, Barharwa, Jamtara, Mihijam, Madhupur, Jasidih, Methan, Kumardubhi, Madhupur, Jasidih, Methan, Chirkunda, Hazaribagh, Gomo, Parasnath, Kabdra, Chakradharpur, Chaibasa and Ranchi were written in Bengali. In the recent past, a change was introduced and display boards carried their names in Hindi.

Soren wants these names to be rewritten in Bengali or regional languages of tribals.