New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday that a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be removed and replaced with a monument to C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General of independent India.

During his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" radio address, Modi criticised the enduring presence of colonial-era figures in the presidential estate. He noted that while statues of British administrators have remained in the palace for decades, many of India’s own historic leaders had not been similarly honoured within its walls.

The Prime Minister framed the move as a step toward decolonisation and a fulfilment of the "Panch-Pran" (five pledges) he introduced during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, specifically the goal of removing "the mentality of slavery."

"A statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens also stood in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Now, this statue will be replaced by a statue of Rajaji (C. Rajagopalachari)," Modi said.

The Rajaji Utsav

The replacement coincides with the "Rajaji Utsav," a celebration scheduled for February 23. The new statue will be unveiled in the central courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the very building Lutyens designed.

"Rajagopalachari was among those who saw power not as a position but as a service. His conduct, self-restraint, and independent thinking in public life inspire us even today," the Prime Minister added.

Following the unveiling, a public exhibition dedicated to Rajagopalachari’s life and legacy will be hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan from February 24 to March 1.

The Lutyens Legacy

Edwin Lutyens, alongside Sir Herbert Baker, was the principal architect of "New Delhi." His designs define the capital’s administrative core, including the North and South Blocks, India Gate, and the presidential palace itself. While his name remains synonymous with the "Lutyens' Delhi" district, the removal of his likeness from the presidential estate signals the government's ongoing effort to replace colonial heritage with indigenous icons.

The announcement follows previous renamings in the capital, such as the transformation of Rajpath into Kartavya Path and the renaming of the Mughal Gardens to Amrit Udyan.

With inputs from PTI