Lutyens' statue removed from Rashtrapati Bhavan
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Digital Desk, New Delhi. The statue of Edwin Lutyens near the Ashoka Mandapam of Rashtrapati Bhavan was removed on Monday, February 23. In its place, the statue of C. Rajagopalachari, the first and only Governor General of independent India, was installed here. President Draupadi Murmu and Vice President CR Radhakrishnan unveiled the statue.
Great grandson's emotional post
His great-grandson Matt Ridley expressed grief over the removal of the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens. Sharing a photo taken with his statue during his visit to India last year, he wrote, 'It is sad to read that the statue of Lutyens (my great grandfather) is being removed from the Presidential Palace he designed in Delhi. I was here last year. Then I was surprised to know why his foundation stone was removed?
Posting a replica of the statue above his bookshelf, he said, 'For those who are suggesting I find a home for Lutyens' statue from Delhi, I already have a copy of it. It's looking down on my desk as I write this. It was created by Sir William Reed-Dick. I understand India's desire to remove colonial statues but he was an architect, not the Viceroy.
resolution of Rajaji Utsav
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program had talked about celebrating 'Rajaji Utsav'. Under this, an exhibition based on the life and works of Rajaji is being organized in Amrit Udyan from 24 February to 1 March. Rajagopalachari's great grandson CR Keshavan has expressed gratitude for this step of the government. He has thanked President Murmu.
Users said on Ridley's post
Many users reacted to Matt Ridley's ex-post. One user wrote, 'This is really very bad. Lutyens designed the building and created perhaps the most magnificent Head of State for India anywhere in the world. To which Ridley agreed to the answer.
Another user wrote, 'Rashtrapati Bhavan is a more beautiful, magnificent building than Buckingham Palace, White House, Quai d'Orsay, Kremlin or the Presidential Palace in Beijing. Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Muslim architectural themes have been carefully incorporated in it.
Who was Edwin Lutyens?
Edwin Lutyens was a British architect. He was born in London in 1869. He designed the most important parts of New Delhi. In the year 1912, the capital of India was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. After which Lutyens was entrusted with the task of designing it. Lutyens designed India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block and South Block.