C Rajagopalachari’s Statue To Replace Lutyens’ At Rashtrapati Bhavan: PM Modi

Last Updated:February 22, 2026, 18:22 IST

During his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi noted that the statues of British administrators remain in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, while those of Indian leaders are denied space.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi will be replaced by a statue of C Rajagopalachari, the first Indian governor-general of independent India.

During his monthly address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi noted that the statues of British administrators remain in the Rashtrapati Bhavan decades after independence, while those of India’s great leaders are not honoured with a place there.

“Tomorrow, the 23rd of February, ‘Rajaji Utsav’ will be celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan. On this occasion, a statue of C. Rajagopalachari ji will be unveiled in the Central Courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was the first Indian Governor General of Independent India," he said.

“He was among those who saw power not as a position but as a service. His conduct, self-restraint, and independent thinking in public life inspire us even today. 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," Modi added.

The Prime Minister said the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens will be replaced by a statue of C Rajagopalachari, along with an exhibition on his life from February 24 to March 1.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, who became independent India’s first Governor General, was born on December 10, 1878, in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. Rajagopalachari was a successful lawyer before entering politics.

Rajagopalachari, more commonly known as Rajaji, was a lawyer, writer, politician, and philosopher. His entry into politics was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. Following the 1937 elections, Rajaji assumed the position of Prime Minister of Madras, a role equivalent to the Chief Minister today.

In the 1952 general election, he became a Lok Sabha member and was subsequently elected Chief Minister of Madras. However, after a few years, dissatisfied with Nehru and the Congress Party, he resigned as Chief Minister and left the party to form his own Swatantra Party.

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