On Independence Day, the locality in Ramnagar, Surat, long known as ‘Pakistan Mohalla’, was officially renamed ‘Hindustani Mohalla’.
According to a media report, the new signboard was unveiled by BJP Surat West MLA Purnesh Modi in the presence of local residents. The name ‘Pakistan Mohalla’ had been informally used for decades, tracing back to the Partition of 1947, when Sindhi Hindu refugees migrated from Sindh (now in Pakistan) and settled in Ramnagar. The colony, home to about 600 houses, eventually saw one section nicknamed ‘Pakistan Mohalla’.
Although earlier attempts were made to change its identity—such as naming an internal junction Hemu Kalani Chowk after a Sindhi freedom fighter—the informal name persisted.
MLA Modi said the renaming gives the neighbourhood a “fresh identity” and urged residents to update their official documents. To assist with this, Aadhaar update camps will be held on August 17 and 24 at Navyug College Campus, Rander Road. Residents will also get help to update voter IDs, ration cards, and other records.
Locals welcomed the move, calling it a step towards unity and renewed belonging.
Surat, often referred to as the “Gateway to the West”, has deep historical roots. Once a thriving Mughal port city in the 16th and 17th centuries, it became a global hub for silk, cotton, and spice trade, attracting merchants from Europe, Arabia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It was also where the British and Dutch East India Companies first set up their Indian trading posts, cementing Surat’s role in international commerce.