Rani Kamlapati
Rani Kamlapati ruled the Gond dynasty. She was the widow of Nizam Shah. After her husband was killed, Kamlapati have shown great bravery in facing the aggressors. She was the last Hindu queen of Bhopal. She did great work in the area of water management. She also set up temples and parks.
Who was Rani Kamlapati?
Rani Kamlapti was the widow of King Nizam Shah. Nizam Shah was poisoned to death by Alam Shah (his nephew). Alam Shah wanted to marry Kamlapati. After her husband’s death, she cleverly cut a deal with Mohammad Khan. She offered to pay 100,000 rupees to protect her kingdom and avenge her husband’s death. Khan accepted the offer, led an army of Gond soldiers and Afghans and killed Alam Shah. Rani Kamlapati palace located in Bhopal is a Monument of National Importance. The Monuments of National Importance are declared by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Who are Gonds?
The Gond community are one of the largest tribal communities of India. They are spread in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Why was Rani Kamlapati in News?
In November 2021, the name of Bhopal Habibganj railway station was changed to Rani Kamlapati station. The station was inaugurated at Rs 100 crores under PPP Model. It was inaugurated by Prime Minster Modi.
Does Indian Railways have powers to change the name of Railway Stations?
The Indian Railways owns the stations, maintains it but cannot change the name of the station. The powers of naming a railways station in India lies with the State Government.
What is the procedure to change the name of the Railway Station?
The State Governments should send a request to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry then looks into the reasons and the need to change the name keeping the Ministry of Railways in the loop. It has to be ensured that there are no other stations with the proposed name. After the approval from the Home Ministry, the Indian Railways doe required works to change the name. This includes fixing codes, installing new name boards, etc.
