Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the replacement of British architect Edwin Lutyens’ bust in Rashtrapati Bhavan with Independent India’s first and only Governor-General C Rajagopalachari’s as an act of mental decolonisation and one that placed India’s democracy as politically independent and culturally self-assured.A message from the PM, read out at the ceremony where President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the bust of Rajaji at the central courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan, said, “As the first and only Indian Governor-General of Independent India, Rajaji provided leadership and stability to our newly independent nation during an important transition period.”C. Rajagopalachari was born on December 10, 1878, in Thorapalli village located in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu (formerly part of the Madras Presidency in British India).”The close relationship that Rajaji shared with Mahatma Gandhi, marked by mutual trust and friendship, is well known. Therefore, it is fitting that Rajaji’s bust is being installed right opposite the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Further, the fact that Rajaji’s bust will be positioned where Edwin Lutyens’ bust used to stand is a crucial detail, making it an important act of mental decolonisation,” it added.The PM also took the occasion to recall past efforts by Rashtrapati Bhavan to shed the vestiges of the colonial past and said all these initiatives ensured that the residence of India’s first citizen reflected the nation’s soul and not the shadow of a colonial past.Modi mentioned the installation of portraits of Param Vir Chakra awardees in place of those of British era ADCs; the replacement of colonial era literature with texts in 11 Indian classical languages; the replacement of British-era paintings with Indian artistic traditions and the reimagining of state banquets and ‘At home’ ceremonies to make his point.The PM said sovereignty was not only important in political and economic spheres, but also crucial in cultural spaces.Modi said the renaming of Rashtrapati Bhavan spaces as Gantantra Mandap, Ashok Mandap and Amrit Udyan (formerly Mughal gardens) furthers the cultural transformation. “These are not cosmetic changes. They reiterate that the nomenclature and language of our institutions must arise from our own civilisational vocabulary,” the PM said as Rashtrapati Bhavan commenced ‘Rajaji Utsav’ to honour the memory of one of India’s great nation-builders.The President House, in a statement, said the initiative of installing Rajaji’s bust was part of a series of steps being taken towards shedding the vestiges colonial mindset and embracing, with pride. Rajaji Utsav comes on the eve of the Tamil Nadu elections.