After the recent renaming of cities and districts in Maharashtra, a demand has emerged to rename the popular beach town of Alibag as Maynak Nagri. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has written a letter to CM Eknath Shinde, urging the name change in memory of Maratha admiral Maynak Bhandari. Narwekar cited the crucial role played by the sea forts and the Maratha navy in protecting Swarajya from foreign invasions. Alibag, believed to have been named after a wealthy Jewish merchant named Ali/Elli, holds historical significance. However, proponents of the name change argue that Maynak Bhandari’s contributions to the establishment of Swarajya and his victory against British and Dutch troops near Alibag deserve recognition. The proposal has sparked a debate over preserving the history and heritage of the region. Critics argue that while commemoration is important, it should not come at the expense of erasing the existing history of the area. Officials have reported that a delegation led by the President of the All India Bhandari Federation and several office bearers have made this demand to Narwekar. The proposal will now be evaluated by the authorities.