President Murmu unveils C Rajagopalachari's statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing Edwin Lutyens as a step towards shedding colonial legacy and celebrating Indian heritage.

Bhopal, February 23, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu unveiled statue of C Rajagopalachari, the first and only Indian Governor General of independent India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The bust of Rajagopalachari, situated at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap, replaces the statue of Edwin Lutyens. This initiative is part of series of steps being taken towards shedding the vestiges colonial mindset and embracing, with pride, the richness of India’s culture, heritage, timeless traditions and honouring those who served Bharat Mata with their extraordinary contributions. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare; and Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar, Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan and family members of Rajaji.

Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had remarked that country was replacing ‘symbol of slavery’ with those reflecting Indian culture. A step toward shedding remnants of a colonial mindset, to be celebrated as ‘Rajaji Utsav’. He was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India. Rajaji’s conduct, self-restraint and independent thinking inspire us even today. “Unfortunately, even after independence, statues of British administrators were allowed to remain in Rashtrapati Bhavan, while those of the nation’s greatest sons were denied space,” Modi said. “Now, this statue has been replaced by a statue of Rajaji.” An exhibition dedicated to Rajagopalachari’s life and contributions will follow from February 24 to March 1.

A Changing Landscape of Memory 

The decision comes amid a wider national effort to revisit colonial-era symbols and rename institutions, roads and landmarks that carry imperial associations. While Lutyens’ architectural genius remains part of India’s urban history, the installation of Rajaji’s statue signals a recalibration — placing India’s constitutional architects and freedom fighters at the heart of its most powerful institutions. From the corridors once designed to project imperial authority to a courtyard that will now honour an Indian statesman who shaped the republic’s early years, Rashtrapati Bhavan is set to witness a powerful moment of historical transition. As the statue rises, it will stand not only as a tribute to Rajaji, but as a reminder of how independent India continues to redefine the symbols of its sovereignty.

In his earlier twitter X post PM Modi had praised Rajaji as freedom fighter, visionary leader and a stateman etc :

The Statesman Called ‘Rajaji’ 

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, affectionately known as Rajaji — was a lawyer, scholar, freedom fighter and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. During Gandhi’s imprisonment, he edited the journal Young India and actively participated in the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements. In June 1948, he succeeded Louis Mountbatten as Governor-General, becoming the only Indian ever to hold that office before it was abolished in 1950 when India became a Republic. Rajaji later served in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru and held the portfolio of Home Minister. Known for his intellectual independence, he eventually parted ways with the Congress and founded the Swatantra Party in 1957, positioning himself as a principled critic of state socialism. Modi described Rajaji as a leader who “saw power not as a position but as service,” praising his restraint, moral clarity and independent thinking. Linking the decision to the broader spirit of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Modi recalled the “Panch-Pran” pledge he outlined from the Red Fort, particularly the call to free India from the mentality of slavery. The statue replacement, he indicated, is not merely about stone and bronze, but about reclaiming historical narrative.