Agra November 11 (PTI)

A Bhartiya Janata Party MLA Jagan Prasad Garg has demanded that Agra's name be changed to 'Agravan.'

In his memorandum to the UP chief minister Garg has said that the original of the Mughal capital was 'Agravan.' The city has links with Mahabharat era. It was the centre of Jain religion and Maharshi Parsu Ram's mother's Renuka was born here. "The original name of the city was Agravan,' he added.

The UP government already has a list of cities whose names are likely to be changed, according to the MLA.

In history Agravan was the first of the 12 dense forests of Braj kshetra, the leelabhoomi of Sri Krishna-Radha. Vrindavan, Mahavan, Kamvan, Kokilavan, etc.

Many voluntary groups have come out in support of the campaign for name change. 

But there are cynics and doubting thomases who wonder how a name change would help accelerate the pace of development. "On the other hand it would send out a wrong message."

Historically the city was founded by Sikandar Lodi in 1504. Before that it was under Bayana, Mathura and Kannauj states. Its independent status as an administrative unit under a king or Navab is not proved, according to local historians.