Lutyens’ farewell from Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajaji’s statue installed, architect’s great grandson expressed sadness – ..

News India Live, Digital Desk: The ‘Grand Open Staircase’ built near the Ashok Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan has now become witness to a new historical change. President Draupadi Murmu on Monday, 23 February 2026, the great leader of independent India C.Rajagopalachari Unveiled the statue of. This statue has been installed at the same place where the statue of Edwin Lutyens was present for decades.

Matt Ridley’s reaction: “It’s sad what happened to the designer of the Presidential Palace”

British biologist and author matt ridleywho is the great-grandson of Edwin Lutyens, expressed his grief over the decision on social media platform ‘X’. His main points:

Personal Connection: Ridley shared a photo of himself standing with the same statue last year. He wrote, “It is sad to read that my great grandfather’s statue is being removed from the very palace he designed.”

Architect vs Viceroy: Ridley argued that Lutyens was an artist and architect, not a British viceroy or administrator. He asked whether architecture should also be seen through the lens of colonial politics?

Mention of Taj Mahal: He also asked in his post whether according to this logic, ‘Taj Mahal’ would also not be considered a symbol of the attackers?

Government’s stance: “Freedom from slavery mentality”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already hinted at this change in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program. The Government believes that:

Resolution of Panch-Pran: This step has been taken as part of the resolution taken during the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence to ‘liberate the mentality of slavery’.

Honoring Indian heroes: The PM said that unfortunately even after independence, the statues of British administrators remained there, while the great sons of the country did not get a place.

Importance of Rajaji: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was not only the first Indian Governor-General of India, but he was also close to Mahatma Gandhi and a great scholar.

Political and cultural messages

This change is being seen as not just an exchange of a statue, but an ‘ideological decolonization’.

choose location: Rajaji’s statue is now installed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, right in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Tamil Connection: There is discussion in the political circles that by honoring Rajagopalachari (who was from Tamil Nadu), the Central Government is placing the pride of South India and especially Tamil Nadu more firmly on the national stage.