Rashtrapati Bhavan halls renamed to ‘remove traces of anglicization’
In a notable development, President Droupadi Murmu renamed two iconic halls of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. The Durbar Hall will now be recognized as ‘Ganatantra Mandap,’ and the Ashok Hall has been renamed as ‘Ashok Mandap.’
The renaming of the halls has been done to drop their British semblance and ‘bring them closer’ to the Indian cultural values and ethos.
A press communique from the President’s House said, “Rashtrapati Bhavan, the office and the residence of the President of India, is a symbol of the nation, and an invaluable heritage of the people. Continuous efforts are being made to make it more accessible to people. There has been a consistent endeavour to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos.”
“The term ‘Durbar‘ refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is, ‘Ganatantra’. The concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue,” the press note further said.
“Renaming Ashoka Hall as Ashok Mandap brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicization while upholding the key values associated with the word ‘Ashok’,” it said.
The ‘Durbar Hall’ hosts significant ceremonies and celebrations, including the presentation of National Awards, while ‘Ashok Hall’ originally functioned as a ballroom. The name ‘Ashok’ signifies freedom from suffering and sorrow, derived from Emperor Ashoka, who symbolizes unity and peaceful coexistence.
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