Politics

Modi Govt determined to erase colonial past

A confident Bharat under Modi sheds its past

September 7, 2022

A glimpse of New India – How PM Modi is shedding the baggage of the colonial past

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi talked about being free from every sign of slavery in this Independence Day speech this year. PM Modi set out “an India free of colonial mindset” as one of the Panch Pran (Five hearts or Five essentials) for New India in Amrit Kaal. This is not the first time though when a conscious effort is being done by PM Modi to shed the baggage of the colonial past.

Numerous steps in this direction have been taken in the last eight years. PM Modi has often spoken about the need to let go of colonial legacy, and colonial symbols and replace them with Indian traditions and strategic thought.

Renaming Rajpath to Kartavya Path

In line with its intention of getting rid of any remnants of the colonial past, Narendra Modi has decided to rename ‘Rajpath’ and Central Vista lawns as ‘Kartavya path’. Rajpath is the Hindi word for ‘Kingsway’, which was given in honour of King George V.
The decision to rename Rajpath and the Central Vista grounds as “Kartavya Path” gave the Modi government another boost in its effort to erase the images of the country’s colonial past. The move comes ahead of the road’s opening after redevelopment as part of Central Vista Avenue. After nearly 20 months of development work, Central Vista Avenue will open on September 8, 2022.

New Naval ensign

September 2, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the new ensign (Nishaan) of the Indian Navy that he said has ‘removed remaining traces of slavery and colonial past’ on the country’s warships by doing away with the St George’s cross. This move is befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage.
The Cross of St George was removed from the Indian Navy’s ensign and replaced by the ensign that the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj inspires.
The new naval flag has the tri-colour on the upper canton. A blue octagonal shape with the national emblem sits atop an anchor, which is superimposed on a shield.

Renaming the Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intention to abolish the images of the colonial era during his Independence Day speech on August 15. However, this process had already started in 2016 when the Race Course Road was renamed, Lok Kalyan Marg. The prime minister’s residence is at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

Redundant colonial-era laws repealed

Since 2014, the Modi government has repealed more than 1500 old and obsolete laws. Most of these laws were remnants of the British era.

Merger of the Railway budget with the annual Union budget

In 2017, breaking the 92-year-old tradition, the government merged the Rail Budget with the General Budget.

Presentation of the Budget on the First Day of February

It has also done away with the colonial-era presentation of the Budget on the last day of February. The budget is now presented on the first day of February.

Grand Statue of Bose at the India Gate canopy

In January 2022, PM Modi inaugurated the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate. A statue will be installed soon in the canopy where the statue of King George V was earlier installed. It was removed in 1968.

Replacement of the Beating ‘Abide With Me’

During Republic Day 2022, the Beating The Retreat ceremony’s concluding piece ‘Abide With Me’ was removed, and Kavi Pradeep’s seminal piece ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ was introduced.
Earlier in 2015, the Beating Retreat saw some major changes wherein Indian musical instruments sitar, santoor, and tabla were added for the first time. The retreat was thus infused with an Indian flavour.

Merger of Amar Jawan Jyoti with National War Memorial

Amar Jawan Jyoti, the ‘eternal flame’, was merged with the flame of the National War Memorial (NWM).

Andaman and Nicobar Islands renamed

In December 2018, PM Modi took a page out of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s book and renamed three islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Back in 1943, Bose had suggested that Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed Shahid and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
In a tribute to the freedom fighter, Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.

Biplobi Bharat Gallery inaugurated at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata

PM recently inaugurated Biplobi Bharat Gallery at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. In what has been named after an erstwhile British Empress of India, PM inaugurated a gallery displaying the contribution of the Revolutionaries in the freedom struggle.

Teaching in mother tongue reflected in NEP 2020

PM has been a proponent of teaching in the mother tongue, as reflected in NEP 2020. This is a marked departure from the focus mainly on English-based education, the wheels of which were set in motion during the British time.

PM Narendra Modi pushed for self-attestation of documents

2014: In a bid to save the common man from hassles, PM Modi pushed for shifting to self-certification of documents and pitched for minimum use of affidavits.

List of other remnants of colonial past erased by Modi government

In 2015, Aurangzeb Road was renamed A P J Abdul Kalam Road.
In 2017, Dalhousie Road was renamed Dara Shikoh Road.
Teen Murti Chowk was changed to Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in 2018.

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