Who Was Edwin Lutyens? President Replaces His Statue At Rashtrapati Bhavan With Rajagopalachari's Bust

The unveiling of a Rajagopalachari bust at Rashtrapati Bhavan signals a shift in commemorative practice, with leaders emphasising decolonisation and a focus on India’s own historical figures. The event, attended by senior ministers and Rajagopalachari’s family, underscores renewed attention to national icons within state institutions.

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a symbolic shift in how the presidential estate remembers history. The new sculpture of independent India’s first and only Indian Governor General replaces the bust of British architect Edwin Lutyens at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap.

The change had been signalled earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan event, a musical group presented all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, adding a ceremonial and historic touch to the occasion attended by senior leaders and Rajagopalachari’s family members.

Rajagopalachari bust Rashtrapati Bhavan and the leaders present

Vice president CP Radhakrishnan joined the ceremony, along with union health and family welfare minister JP Nadda and external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan were also present, besides several relatives of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat read out a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which described the change of busts as an act of "mental decolonisation." In a separate post on X, Modi welcomed the step as part of a wider move to re-centre national icons within key state institutions.

Rajagopalachari bust Rashtrapati Bhavan and Modi’s remarks

Earlier, during Mann Ki Baat, Modi had criticised the earlier choices of statues at the presidential estate. Modi said, "His (Rajagopalachari) conduct, self-restraint, and independent thinking in public life inspire us even today. Unfortunately, even after independence, statues of British administrators were allowed to remain in Rashtrapati Bhavan, but those of the nation's greatest sons were denied space,"

Modi later expanded on this view in the message shared online. The post on X stated, "A commendable effort, which reflects India's resolve to honour those who shaped our destiny and to shed remnants of a colonial mindset. Rajaji was a towering scholar, freedom fighter, thinker and administrator. His life embodied integrity, intellect and unwavering commitment to the nation."

Addressing guests, President Murmu recalled Rajagopalachari’s direct connection with Rashtrapati Bhavan. Murmu spoke about how Rajagopalachari encouraged the cultivation of crops on part of the campus, showing interest in practical, sustainable use of the estate’s land while serving as Governor General after independence.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was born on 10 December 1878 in the Madras Presidency. Trained as a lawyer, Rajagopalachari left legal practice to join the Indian National Congress, became an early associate of Mahatma Gandhi, and took part in key protests against British rule, including the Rowlatt Act agitation, the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Rajagopalachari entered the Constituent Assembly from Madras on a Congress ticket and worked on the sub-committee on minorities. Rajagopalachari received the Bharat Ratna in 1954, and the new bust at Rashtrapati Bhavan is presented as a recognition of that legacy, as well as a conscious move away from colonial-era figures in such prominent spaces.

Who was Edwin Lutyens?

Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens was a renowned British architect widely regarded as the chief designer behind modern New Delhi. Known for his creative range and architectural excellence, he played a central role in shaping the capital after the British government decided to move India's administrative centre from Calcutta to Delhi. He worked closely with architect Herbert Baker on this massive project.

Lutyens is credited with planning much of New Delhi's layout, which is known for its broad avenues, organised structure and large green spaces. Some of his most notable contributions include the design of Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the Viceroy's House), India Gate, and the North Block and South Block, all of which remain iconic landmarks in the city today.