Residency Kothi remaining stirs historic debate: Saadat Khan’s descendants seek recognition for 1857 martyr

Indore(Team Newsbuddy): A renewed debate over the renaming of Indore’s historic Residency Kothi has captured attention as descendants of 1857 martyr Saadat Khan call for the landmark to bear his name in tribute to his legacy. This 200-year-old structure, a pivotal site of resistance during India’s First War of Independence, is at the center of a dispute following a decision by Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava and the Mayor-in-Council (MIC) on October 18 to rename it Shivaji Kothi, commemorating the courage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The decision sparked fresh appeals, with the social organization “Punyashlok” advocating for the name Devi Ahilyabai Kothi in honor of Ahilyabai Holkar, the revered ruler of the Holkar dynasty of Indore. Members of the organization even placed a banner with her name outside Residency Kothi’s main gate, reigniting public interest in Indore’s heritage and its commemorations.
Rizwan Khan, a descendant of Saadat Khan, expressed his family’s longstanding wish for recognition, noting that Khan’s martyrdom remains a vital part of Residency Kothi’s legacy. “We fully honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Devi Ahilyabai, but Saadat Khan’s sacrifice is integral to the history of Residency Kothi,” said Khan. “It was here that he led local revolutionaries to defy British rule, only to be executed on these grounds. We believe the name should reflect his sacrifice.”
Adding to the voices in support, Shaheen Awais Bahadur, a descendant of the royal family of Banda, UP, recounted her ancestor’s involvement in Saadat Khan’s burial and appealed for a public space in Indore to honor him. “At least one landmark should carry his name so that future generations remember his courage,” said Bahadur, who serves as president of the women’s committee of the Hindavi Swarajya Mahasangh.
Mayor Bhargava explained the renaming as a move to “erase the mark of colonial subjugation” and inspire Indore’s citizens with the valor of historical figures like Shivaji Maharaj. While emphasizing the importance of honoring every freedom fighter, he left the door open for naming another place in the city after Saadat Khan.
Historian Zafar Ansari recounted Residency Kothi’s colonial origins, noting it was built in 1820 by the East India Company as a British administrative center for central India. “In a historic act of defiance, Saadat Khan led a force of local rebels to storm Residency Kothi on July 1, 1857, taking down the British flag and raising that of the Holkar state,” Ansari said. “Although captured and executed in 1874, his legacy remains woven into this landmark.”
The debate highlights a broader question about how Indore should preserve and honor its history—whether through the names of colonial-era buildings or new recognitions for those who fought for freedom. As the public continues to weigh in, the Residency Kothi’s new name stands as a reminder of both India’s struggle for independence and the complex narratives that shape its heritage