Priyanka Gandhi Comments on Renaming of Rashtrapati Bhavan Halls by President Droupadi Murmu
New Delhi [India], July 25: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi took a dig at the renaming of the Durbar and Ashok Halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. She remarked, “There is no concept of Durbar but there is a concept of Shahenshah.”
Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu announced that two important halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan, namely, Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall, have been renamed as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, respectively. A release from the President’s Secretariat mentioned that the renaming was part of a “consistent endeavour to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of Indian cultural values and ethos.”
Durbar Hall, now called Ganatantra Mandap, is the venue for important ceremonies and celebrations, such as the presentation of the National Awards. It is also where C. Rajagopalachari took oath as the Governor-General of India in 1948. The hall is used to host Civil and Defence Investiture Ceremonies, swearing-in ceremonies of incoming governments, additions to the Council of Ministers, and the swearing-in of the Chief Justices of India. This ceremonial hall, located under the central Dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan, can be accessed from three sides.
Renaming ‘Ashok Hall’ as ‘Ashok Mandap’ brings uniformity in language and removes traces of anglicisation while upholding the key values associated with the word ‘Ashok’. The Ashok Hall, now called Ashok Mandap, is used for the presentation of credentials by Heads of Missions of foreign countries and as a formal place of introductions for visiting and Indian delegations before State Banquets hosted by the President. The hall features a wooden floor with springs beneath its surface and ceilings decorated with oil paintings.
Doubts Revealed
Priyanka Gandhi -: Priyanka Gandhi is an Indian politician and a member of the Gandhi family, which has been very influential in Indian politics. She is the daughter of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Rashtrapati Bhavan -: Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India. It is a large and beautiful building located in New Delhi.
Droupadi Murmu -: Droupadi Murmu is the President of India. She is the head of the country and has many important responsibilities.
Durbar Hall -: Durbar Hall is a grand room in Rashtrapati Bhavan where important ceremonies and events are held. It has now been renamed Ganatantra Mandap.
Ashok Hall -: Ashok Hall is another important room in Rashtrapati Bhavan used for diplomatic events. It has now been renamed Ashok Mandap.
Ganatantra Mandap -: Ganatantra Mandap is the new name for Durbar Hall. ‘Ganatantra’ means ‘Republic’ in Hindi, reflecting Indian cultural values.
Ashok Mandap -: Ashok Mandap is the new name for Ashok Hall. ‘Mandap’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘pavilion’ or ‘hall’.
Anglicized traces -: Anglicized traces refer to names or things that have been influenced by English culture. The renaming aims to remove these influences and promote Indian culture.
Indian ethos -: Indian ethos refers to the values, culture, and traditions that are unique to India. The renaming of the halls aims to reflect these values.
