Pune Renaming Demand: OBC Organisation Urges CM Devendra Fadnavis to Rename City ‘Phulenagar’

Pune, 12th November 2026: A demand to rename Pune as ‘Phulenagar’ has been raised by the Rashtriya OBC Mukti Morcha, bringing the issue of changing the city’s name back into focus. The organisation has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to consider the proposal ahead of the bicentenary of social reformer Mahatma Jotiba Phule.

In addition to renaming Pune, the organisation has demanded that Mahatma Phule be posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contributions to social reform and education.

Office-bearers of the Rashtriya OBC Mukti Morcha recently met Fadnavis in Nagpur and submitted a memorandum seeking to rename Pune as ‘Phulenagar’. They highlighted that Pune was the karmabhoomi (place of work) of Mahatma Phule, who made significant contributions to education and social reform.

The organisation stated that renaming the city would be a tribute to Mahatma Phule’s legacy and contributions, particularly as the country approaches the bicentenary of his birth.