Rashtrapati Bhavan steps into a new era Monday with the ‘Rajaji Utsav,’ featuring the grand unveiling of C. Rajagopalachari’s statue in its central precinct. This tribute to independent India’s inaugural Indian Governor-General ousts a longstanding colonial emblem.
During the 131st ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ PM Narendra Modi connected the dots to his Amrit Mahotsav ‘Panch Pran’—chief among them, escaping the psychological chains of colonialism. ‘The nation is now elevating our cultural symbols,’ he affirmed, spotlighting the presidential initiative.
Rajagopalachari’s public life was a masterclass in integrity. ‘Power was service to him, not privilege,’ Modi said, lauding the statesman’s composure and original thinking that navigated India’s formative years.
Post-freedom, the irony stung: British busts, like Edwin Lutyens’, graced the lawns, while national luminaries languished in obscurity. Modi decried this as a ‘tragic oversight,’ now rectified by placing Rajaji where Lutyens once stood.
The celebrations include a comprehensive exhibit open from February 24 to March 1, chronicling Rajaji’s odyssey—from satyagraha campaigns to his groundbreaking 1957 electoral victory with the Swatantra Party, championing free markets in a socialist-leaning era.
‘Visit, learn, and draw inspiration,’ the PM exhorted. In an age of historical reckoning, this event reaffirms commitment to heroes who forged modern India, blending reverence for the past with vision for tomorrow.