In a powerful address via ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Narendra Modi announced Rashtrapati Bhavan’s transformative step: erecting a statue of C. Rajagopalachari in place of Edwin Lutyens’ figure. This move, he said, embodies the nation’s rejection of slavery’s remnants, embracing instead icons of its indigenous ethos.
Tomorrow’s ‘Rajaji Utsav’ on February 23 will feature the statue’s inauguration at the central lawn. Rajagopalachari, independent India’s inaugural Indian Governor-General, viewed governance as service, not authority. His life of restraint and bold ideas continues to inspire. Modi decried the post-independence neglect of such figures while colonial relics persisted.
From February 24 to March 1, an in-depth exhibition on Rajaji’s legacy will draw visitors. The PM personally invited all to attend, tying it to the ‘Panch Pran’ for Viksit Bharat.
Modi extended the message to festivals, promoting ‘Vocal for Local’ by shunning imported festival items. ‘Opt for swadeshi to fuel self-reliance,’ he said. Wrapping up, he thanked contributors to the show and solicited more tales of grassroots innovation and patriotism from every corner of the country.
This statue swap is more than symbolic; it’s a clarion call for decolonizing minds and spaces, propelling India toward a future rooted in its glorious past.