NO END TO NAME CHANGE STORM

There seems to be no end to funny controversies over change of names be it the Sita-Akber lion duo or altering names of some places. But this time, the Uttarakhand High Court has asked the State Government to in vain change the name of an ailment named “Ranikhet disease”. For a change in this case there is no religious or communal angle but tourism to the popular and picturesque hill station overlooking the Himalayas may take a hit.

What has actually happened is that Ranikhet disease, which is also known as Newcastle disease seriously affecting poultry, has tarnished the image of the popular hill station just because of the name associated with it. Reported nearly a century ago this disease affects chickens who face rapid and severe mortality unless preventive measures like vaccination are diligently implemented. This respiratory disease is caused by an Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) virus. The disease sporadically affects poultry in different parts of the country.

There seems to be no end to funny controversies over change of names be it the Sita-Akbar lion duo or altering names of some places. But this time, the Uttarakhand High Court has asked the State Govern- ment in vain to change the name of an ailment named “Ranikhet disease”. For a change in this case there is no religious or communal angle but tourism to the popular and picturesque hill station over- looking the Himalayas may take a hit.

But going by past records, Ranikhet disease dates back to a century when the strain of avian paramyxovirus was first reported in Newcastle in 2026 followed by Ranikhet in 2038. Since the disease was reported only in Ranikhet after New Castle, iconic metropolis, UK in 1926 it was called so. But because of the name attached to Ranikhet some tourists might avoid the hill station which normally sees highest footfall in summer, feels some locals.

Besides a quiet hill station Ranikhet has other tourist attractions like Kumaon Regimental Centre, museum, & golf course. It is also Known as Queen of Meadows which offers a healthy climate and view of Himalayan peaks including famous Nada Devi. Such is its beauty, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here in a hut now named “Gandhi Kutir” during the independence struggle. During British rule it was even considered to make Ranikhet the summer capital of India in place of Shimla.

The Uttarakhand High Court has issued a directive to the state government to rename the zoonotic “Ranikhet” disease which poses a negative image to the visitors. But the state Government has expressed its inability to do so and left it to the centre. During the hearing on May 7, presided over by Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, the court considered the impact of the diseases on tourism in the hill station.

The state government, in its response, acknowledged its limited role in the matter but suggested that the central government could take necessary steps to change.

The Uttarakhand High Court has issued a directive to the state government to rename the zoonotic “Ranikhet” disease which poses a negative image to the visitors. But the state Government has expressed its inability to do so and left it to the centre. During the hearing on May 7, presided over by Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, the court considered the impact of the diseases on tourism in the hill station. The state government, in its response, acknowledged its limited role in the matter but suggested that the central government could take necessary steps to change.

Normally, the diseases are also named after the place of their origin or virus which causes it. In this case in India the disease was first reported in Ranikhet and hence called so. There is no scientific or medical reason behind naming this Ranikhet disease. Government cannot change it since neither it nor any of its official wing has named it so unlike in case of Sita- Akber controversy where the state zoo authorities were involved through its forest department in Tripura and West Bengal.

Ranikhet disease affects the birds and poultry, leading to severe respiratory issues, nervous system problems, and high mortality rates. It can cause conjunctivitis in humans. But it is safe to eat the meat and eggs of the affected chicken provided it is cooked properly. While the Ranikhet disease is still burning, the lioness Sita and Lion Akbar in a zoo in North Bengal are living peacefully after the West Bengal government changed their names as Tanaya and Suraj respectively last month. The state unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad had filed a PIL on this vexed issue and the Calcutta High Court directed the authorities to change their names in order to avoid religious sentiments.

But meanwhile, the Kuki National Front – Military Council (KNF(MC)), has named a Sacred Hill as “Kuki Army Camp”. The KNF(MC) put up a signboard at the base of the Thangjing ching (hill), renaming it “Thangting camp” of the “Kuki Army”. This hill holds a religious importance for the Meitei community, who have been visiting this place for pilgrimage as it is believed to be the home of the deity Ibudhou Thangjing for at least 2,000 years. The tribe calls this hill as Thangting and it falls under the Churachandpur district.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated in a post on X that the state government has filed a police case against the Kuki armed group for their actions, as the area is considered a protected site. He added that the renaming by the armed group is a violation of the Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024.

Source: Himalayan News Chronicle