Rajagopalachari Statue to Replace Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan | 23 Feb 2026

Source: HT

The Prime Minister of India announced that the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be replaced by that of C. Rajagopalachari. 

• While Edwin Lutyens designed the monumental Rashtrapati Bhavan, C. Rajagopalachari holds the distinction of being the first Indian occupant of the building as the Head of State.

C. Rajagopalachari

• About: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, was a towering Indian freedom fighter, politician, and the first and last Indian Governor-General of independent India.

  • He was born on 10th December 1878 in Salem, Madras Province (now Tamil Nadu). 

• Key Contributions: 

  • Role in the Indian National Movement: Inspired by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he joined the Indian National Congress and took part in the freedom struggle  and later hosted Mahatma Gandhi during the anti-Rowlatt agitation.
    • Mirroring the Dandi March, he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) from Tiruchi to Vedaranyam.
    • Rajaji served as the Prime Minister of Madras Province (1937), where he promoted Khadi, and advocated for the abolition of the Zamindari system.
  • The C.R. Formula (1944): Post-Quit India Movement, he authored the pamphlet "The Way Out," proposing a formula to solve the constitutional deadlock between the INC and the Muslim League regarding the demand for Pakistan.
  • Post-Independence Political and Administrative Leadership: Served as the Governor of West Bengal, Union Home Minister (succeeding Sardar Patel), and played a role in drafting the First Five-Year Plan.
    • He also piloted the Preventive Detention Act, 1950 in Parliament.
    • Rajaji formed the Swatantra Party in 1959 which actively campaigned for a market economy. As the Chief Minister of Madras State, one of his first acts was to decontrol the distribution of foodgrains and their prices.
  • Literary Contributions & Awards: He founded an ashram in Madras Province (1925) for social upliftment, and published Vimochanam (Tamil) and Prohibition (English).
    • He won the 1958 Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil literature for his retelling of the Ramayana, titled Chakravarthi Thirumagan.
    • He was one of the first three recipients of India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna (1954) alongside Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and C.V. Raman.

Edwin Lutyens: 

• A British architect and town planner who, in collaboration with Sir Herbert Baker, designed several monumental buildings in New Delhi, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, and India Gate. 
  • A part of New Delhi is known as Lutyens’ Delhi in recognition of his architectural contribution.