The President unveiled a bust of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing Edwin Lutyens’ statue as part of efforts to remove colonial-era symbols.
- Edwin Lutyens was a prominent British architect who designed large parts of New Delhi.
- E.g., Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, North Block and South Block.
- He designed Rashtrapati Bhavan in collaboration with Herbert Baker.
About Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878-1972)
- He was born on 10th December in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu.
- He was a patriot, social reformer, renowned lawyer & abled administrator etc.
- Popularly referred to as Rajaji
Key Contributions
- Participated in agitations against the Rowlatt Act, the Non-Cooperation movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Led Vedaranyam March to break the salt law in 1930.
- Proposed the “C.R. Formula” to resolve the Hindu–Muslim political deadlock before Partition.
- Elected to the Constituent Assembly from Madras.
- Served as Governor of West Bengal 1947-48 and Governor General of India 1948-50.
- Formed Swatantra Party.
Values: Humanism, integrity, etc.
