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  "path": "/news/world/india-british-architect-decolonisation-drive",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-23T03:06:09.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Neolithic monument 'where bones of Merlin the magician buried' to see demolition work",
    "Nasa's Moon mission date in peril after troubling discovery",
    "Foreign Office issues urgent warning to British tourists in Mexico as cartel violence erupts",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nIndia is set to remove a statue of iconic British architect Edwin Lutyens as part of its accelerating “decolonisation” drive.\n\nA bust of Sir Edwin will be taken down from the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and replaced with a statue of C. Rajagopalachari - the first Governor-General of India after independence in 1947.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Today, the country is leaving behind the symbols of slavery and has begun to value symbols related to Indian culture.”\n\nMr Lutyens was the chief architect tasked with redesigning Delhi after it was declared the imperial capital of British India by George V in 1911.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nHe drew heavily on traditional Indian and Mughal styles in shaping the new administrative district.\n\nAmong his most significant works was Viceroy’s House - designed alongside fellow British architect Herbert Baker - which later became the President’s official residence and was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1950.\n\nIn his monthly radio address, Mr Modi said: “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.\n\n“A statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens also stood in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Now, this statue will be replaced by a statue of Rajaji.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNew Delhi’s central administrative zone is still commonly referred to as “Lutyens’ Delhi” in recognition of his architectural legacy.\n\nThis includes the Lutyens Bungalow Zone - nearly 7,000 acres of residences built for senior officials and ministers - which was listed among the World Monuments Fund’s 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2002.\n\nMr Lutyens also designed India Gate, commemorating Indian soldiers who died in the First World War, and the The Cenotaph in London.\n\nMr Modi has repeatedly moved to remove colonial-era symbols.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Neolithic monument 'where bones of Merlin the magician buried' to see demolition work\n  * Nasa's Moon mission date in peril after troubling discovery\n  * Foreign Office issues urgent warning to British tourists in Mexico as cartel violence erupts\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIn 2022, he introduced a new ensign for the Indian navy in place of the St George's Cross, a move he said removed \"the remaining traces of slavery and a colonial past\".\n\nHe also renamed the Raj Path, which translates to King's Way, to the Kartavya Path, which translates to the Path of Duty.\n\n\nSome universities began teaching medical degrees in Hindi, removing the need to learn English.\n\nLast month, railway staff were banned from wearing the traditional uniform of a \"prince suit\", a black jacket with a Chinese collar that was introduced by the British in the 19th century and modelled on western railway uniforms.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe new statue of Rajagopalachari will be unveiled on Monday in the Rashtrapati Bhavan central courtyard.\n\n\nMr Modi has repeatedly affirmed that he intends to eradicate India's \"mindset of slavery\" within a decade.\n\nAs part of his Five Pledges unveiled on India's Independence Day in 2022, the Indian PM vowed to rid the country of the \"psychological impact\" of the British Raj by 2035.\n\nHe also pledged to reduce India's dependence on adopting other country's educational , economic and governmental systems, and revitalise the country's ancient traditions to create a greater sense of cultural pride.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "India removes statue of iconic British architect in ‘decolonisation’ drive"
}