Priyanka Gandhi Criticizes Renaming of Rashtrapati Bhavan Halls, Questions ‘Shahenshah’ Concept

Priyanka Gandhi Criticizes Renaming of Rashtrapati Bhavan Halls, Questions ‘Shahenshah’ Concept

Congress pioneer Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the renaming of the Durbar and Ashok Lobbies of Rashtrapati Bhavan, saying the idea of “shahenshah (lord)” actually exists in the country.

“There is no understanding of Durbar except for there is an idea of Shahenshah,” she said.

President Droupadi Murmu declared that two of the significant lobbies of Rashtrapati Bhavan, to be specific, Durbar Lobby and Ashok Corridor, have been renamed as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, individually. The move was taken to balance the pioneer legacy the names of the lobbies reflected.

The President’s Secretariat said in a proclamation that the renaming was essential for a “steady undertaking to make the feel of the Rashtrapati Bhavan intelligent of Indian social qualities and ethos.”

The press articulation said the term ‘Durbar’ alludes to courts of Indian rulers and the English Raj. It lost its importance when India turned into a republic, it added.

“‘Durbar Lobby’ is the scene of significant functions and festivities like the introduction of public honors. The term ‘Durbar’ alludes to courts and congregations of Indian rulers and the English. It lost significance after India turned into a republic, or at least, ‘Ganatantra’. The idea of ‘Ganatantra’ is well established in Indian culture since old times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an adept name for the setting.,” it said.

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It said renaming Ashok Lobby eliminates the hints of anglicization.

“Ashok Lobby” was initially a dance hall. The word ‘Ashok’ means somebody who is ‘liberated from all sufferings’ or, alternately, is ‘deprived of any distress’. Likewise, ‘Ashoka’ alludes to sovereign Ashok, an image of solidarity and tranquil concurrence. The public token of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath. The word additionally alludes to the Ashok tree, which has profound importance in Indian strict practices as well as expressions and culture. Renaming ‘Ashok Corridor’ as ‘Ashok Mandap’ acquires consistency language and eliminates the hints of anglicization while maintaining the key qualities related to the word ‘Ashok’,” the assertion adds.