Yesterday, President Droupadi Murmu, announced the renaming of the two important halls of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In an official statement, the President announced the renaming of โDurbar Hallโ and โAshok Hallโ as-โGanatantra Mandapโ and โAshok Mandapโ respectively.
โDurbar Hallโ Renamed- โGanatantra Mandapโ
The Durbar Hall is an important venue of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is a magnificent hall were important ceremonies and celebrations takes place. According to historian Christopher Hussey, โThe impact of the Durbar Hall, however approached, is immediate, overwhelming and utterly silencing.โ Apart from the hallโs grandeur including the exquisite Belgium glass chandelier which hangs from a height of 33 meters from its ceiling. The hall is a testimony of historic moments including the swearing in ceremony of Indiaโs first government.
It is the same place where C. Rajagopalachari, took oath in 1948, as the governor general of India. It is also the place where the President of India confers the most prestigious honours like Padma Shri etc. to the recipients.
Why No More Durbar Hall?
In a statement the President Secretariat said, โDurbar Hallโ is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards. The term โDurbarโ refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is, โGanatantraโ. The concept of โGanatantraโ is deeply rooted in Indian society since the ancient times, making โGanatantra Mandapโ an apt name for the venue.
Ashok Hall Renamed To โAshok Mandapโ
Once serving as the State Ballroom, โAshok Hallโ at Rashtrapati Bhavan is regarded as one of the most intriguing and ornately decorated spaces in the building. Reportedly, the hall has six Belgium Chandeliers and an assortment of paintings.
These days, it serves as a venue for significant ceremonial events, the credential presentation by foreign mission heads, and a formal setting for the introduction of visiting and Indian delegations before the Presidentโs state banquets get underway.
Why โAshok Mandapโ?
The Presidentโs secretariat, stated that the word โAshokโ connotes someone who is โfree from all sufferingsโ or is โbereft of any sorrowโ. Also, โAshokaโ refers to Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence. The National Emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath. The word also refers to the Ashok tree which has deep significance in Indian religious traditions as well as arts and culture.
Renaming โAshok Hallโ as โAshok Mandapโ brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation while upholding the key values associated with the word โAshokโ.
Notably, this is not the first time renaming has happened in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Earlier, the Mughal garden was renamed as โAmrit Udyan.โ According to the statement issued by the Presidentโs secretariat, โContinuous efforts are being made to make it more accessible to people. There has been a consistent endeavours to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos.โ
Furthermore, the renaming has a deep-rooted symbolism for the nation. It emphasises our democratic values, cultural roots and above all it is a clear move towards decolonisation.