Why in News ?
President Droupadi Murmu on 25th July announced the renaming of two halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan – Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall – as Ganatantra ,Mandap and Ashok Mandap respectively. The Durbar Hall is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards. The Ashok Hall, originally a ballroom, is now used for special events.
Today’s News :
“There has been a consistent endeavour to make the ambiance of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos,” read a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The term ‘Durbar’ refers to courts and assemblies once held by rulers. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, a ‘Ganatantra’, said the statement, adding that the concept of the republic is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue.
The word ‘Ashok’ connotes someone who is “free from all sufferings” or is “bereft of any sorrow”. Also, it refers to Emperor Ashoka, a symbol of unity and peaceful coexistence, said the Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
The National Emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital, Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath. The word also refers to the Ashok tree, which has deep significance in Indian religious traditions as well as arts and culture, according to the statement.
“Renaming Ashok Hall as Ashok Mandap brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation while upholding the key values associated with the word ‘Ashok’,” it said.
In January last year, a day before the historic Mughal Gardens were to open to the public, the Rashtrapati Bhavan announced that it was giving it “a common name” of Amrit Udyan.
Spread over 15 acres, Mughal Gardens’ layout resembled the style of gardens built by the Mughals in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as around the Taj Mahal. As per the Rashtrapati Bhavan website, which describes the gardens as “the soul of the Presidential Palace”, miniature paintings of India and Persia were also an inspiration for them.