Rajaji's statue replaces Lutyens' statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan... Architect's great-grandson expresses regret

President Draupadi Murmu on Sunday unveiled the statue of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), independent India's first and only Governor-General, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The statue replaces the statue by British architect Edwin Lutyens, and is described as part of a broader initiative to move beyond colonial symbols.

The statue, installed in the Grand Open Staircase area near the Ashoka Pavilion, faces the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rajagopalachari's statue has been installed in the Grand Open Staircase area near the Ashoka Pavilion, facing the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. This change is being seen as an effort to highlight Indian personalities and traditions within the Presidential Complex.

"Rajaji had installed portraits of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Gandhi"

The unveiling ceremony took place during the "Rajaji Utsav" held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and several Union Ministers. In her address, President Murmu linked Rajagopalachari's role to India's process of "liberation from mental colonialism." She recalled that when Rajaji moved to Government House after independence, he had installed portraits of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Mahatma Gandhi in his room.

The President also noted that Rashtrapati Bhavan has undergone several changes in recent years, such as replacing portraits of British officials with portraits of Param Vir Chakra winners and opening several parts of the building to the public. She said that Rajagopalachari's multifaceted life in the fields of law, politics, social reform, and literature inspires the journey towards a "developed India" by 2047.

"Where Lutyens' statue once stood..."

The Prime Minister's message read at the event stated that installing Rajagopalachari's statue in the place where Lutyens' statue once stood is an important step towards liberation from mental colonialism, and that the Rashtrapati Bhavan today symbolizes the democratic self-confidence inherent in Indian civilization.

Lutyens' great-grandson expresses grief

However, Lutyens' great-grandson and British science writer Matt Ridley expressed grief over this change. He wrote on social media that he was saddened to learn that his statue had been removed from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, designed by his great-grandfather in New Delhi. He also noted that last year he had noticed that Lutyens' name had already been removed from the base plaque. The government has announced that an exhibition on Rajagopalachari's life and works will be held in Amrit Udyan from February 24 to March 1 as part of the Rajaji Utsav.