New Delhi, Sep 7 : The renaming of Rajpath to Kartavya Path is just an example, but a lot of similar initiatives have been implemented in the last few years that show the Centre is determined to erase the colonial past.An updated naval ensign changing the name of Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg and the repeal of outdated colonial laws and the imposing statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the India Gate canopy are few examples.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked about being free from all signs of slavery during Independence Day this year.He has declared “an India free of colonial mentality” as part of the “Panch Prans” in the name of New India in Amrit Kaal.
Rajpath to Kartavya Path
In keeping with its aim of clearing the city of any traces of the colonial past Narendra Modi has taken the decision to name the Rajpath and Central Vista lawns in the capital as ‘Kartavya path’.
Rajpath is the Hindi word meaning “Kingsway,” which was named in the honor of the King George V.The decision to name Rajpath and also the Central Vista lawns as Kartavya Path gave the Modi government a new boost in its attempt to eliminate the stigmas of the colonial past of the country.
The move is in advance of the road’s reopening following the redevelopment that was an element of the Central Vista Avenue.
After more than 20 months of construction work The Central Vista Avenue will be inaugurated on the 8th of September.
New naval ensign
On September 2nd, Modi unveiled the new Ensign (‘Nishaan’) of the Indian Navy that he said has removed the last evidence of the colonial past and slavery on the nation’s warships by removing with the St George’s cross.
This move is fitting for the rich Indian maritime heritage.
The cross of St George was removed from the Indian Navy’s ensign, and was replaced by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Renaming Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg
The Prime Minister announced his plan to end the symbols of the colonial era in his Independence Day speech on August 15.The process had already begun in 2016, when Race Course Road was renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg.The residence of the Prime Minister is situated on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
Colonial-era laws repealed
Since 2014 the Modi government has repealed over 1500 outdated and outdated laws, many of that were leftovers of the British time.
The Merger of Railway Budget with Union Budget
In a departure from the 92-year-old tradition the government combined the Railway Budget with the Union Budget in 2017.The government also did the away with the traditional presentation of Budget on the final day of February.
Budgets are now announced on the 1st day of February.
Great statue of Netaji in the India Gate canopy
In January of this year, Modi had inaugurated the Hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate.
A statue will be erected in the near future in the canopy in the place where the statue of King George V was earlier installed.It was taken down in 1968.
Removing “Abide With Me’
In the course of Republic Day this year, the “Beating the Retreat ceremony’s final music piece “Abide With Me’ was replaced with Kavi Pradeep’s “Aye Mere watan ke Logon’.In the past in 2015, the event witnessed major changes when Indian musical instruments like sitar tabla and santoor were added for the first time.
The retreat was infused with an Indian taste.
Fusion of Amar Jawan Jyoti with National War Memorial
The Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame was fused with the flame of the National War Memorial (NWM).
Renaming Andaman and Nicobar islands
In December of 2018, Modi took a page out of Netaji’s book and changed the names of three islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.In the past, in 1943, Bose had suggested that Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.
In an honor to the freedom fighters, Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.
Other traces of the colonial past that were eliminated by the Modi government:
* In the year 2015, Aurangzeb Road was renamed as A.P.J Abdul Kalam Road
* In 2017 Dalhousie Road was renamed as Dara Shikoh Road.
* In 2018 the name Teen Murti Chowk was changed to Teenmurti Haifa
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