Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be replaced with a statue of C Rajagopalachari, independent India’s first Indian governor-general, as part of what he described as a broader effort to move away from colonial-era symbols and honour Indian national figures.
Speaking during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi said that remnants of colonial symbolism had continued to exist even after independence, noting that statues of British administrators remained in prominent national spaces while many Indian leaders were not similarly recognised. He stated that the country is now consciously replacing such symbols with representations rooted in India’s own history and values.
The prime minister said the statue of Edwin Lutyens, the British architect who designed key government buildings in New Delhi, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, would be replaced by a statue of C Rajagopalachari, widely known as Rajaji. The new statue will be unveiled in the central courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan during a commemorative event titled “Rajaji Utsav” on February 23.
Modi linked the move to the broader theme of shedding a “colonial mindset,” which he had earlier emphasised during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations through the concept of Panch-Pran, a set of national resolutions aimed at strengthening cultural confidence and national identity. He described Rajagopalachari as a leader who viewed public office as a form of service rather than authority, highlighting his integrity, restraint, and independent thinking as qualities that continue to inspire public life.
As part of the commemorative programme, an exhibition dedicated to Rajagopalachari’s life and contributions will also be organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan from February 24 to March 1, allowing visitors to learn more about his role in India’s political and intellectual history.
Edwin Lutyens, working alongside architect Herbert Baker, played a major role in designing several landmark structures in New Delhi during the British colonial period, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, and India Gate. His architectural legacy remains closely associated with the capital’s central administrative district, often referred to as “Lutyens’ Delhi.”
The announcement reflects an ongoing effort by the government to reinterpret public spaces by foregrounding figures from India’s post-independence history while reassessing symbols linked to the colonial era.
