Why Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall have been renamed and a look at their history  

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s two iconic venues have had their names changed.

The Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall have been renamed ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’ respectively.

“Continuous efforts are being made to make it more accessible to people. There has been a consistent endeavour to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos,” a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat said.

The move comes after the Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens, popularly known as the Mughal Gardens, were renamed ‘Amrit Udyan.’

But why have the names been changed? And what do we know about the history of the halls?

Let’s take a closer look:

Durbar Hall is now Ganatantra Mandap

‘Durbar Hall’ is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of national awards.

It was previously known as the throne room.

As per Indian Express, swearing-in ceremonies including that of the Chief Justice of India are held here.

Durbar Hall saw the swearing-in of Independent India’s first government in 1947.

It is also the place where C Rajagopalachari took the oath as the Governor-General of India in 1948.

It was used to pay respects to India’s fifth president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed after his passing in 1977.

Indian Express quoted historian Christopher Hussey as saying, “The impact of the Durbar Hall, however approached, is immediate, overwhelming and utterly silencing.”

The hall’s walls are 42 feet high and encased in white marble. Its dome is around 22 metres in diameter.

“An exquisite Belgium glass chandelier decorates the Durbar Hall as it hangs from a height of 33 meters from its ceiling,” the government website states.

As per Indian Express, the hall had two thrones for the Viceroy of India and his wife.

These were replaced by the President’s Chair.

“Although fundamentally the same, the room has changed subtly in its purport. The designs for the canopy under which the throne rests remain unchanged… After Independence a new throne with symbols of the Indian republic was placed here instead,” The Arts and Interiors of Rashtrapati Bhavan: Lutyens and Beyond’ states.

“The term ‘Durbar’ refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is, ‘Ganatantra’. The concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since the ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue,” the statement said.

Ashok Hall is now Ashok Mandap

Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom.

As per Indian Express, the Centre uses the hall for the presentation of credentials by Heads of Missions of foreign nations.

It is also used as a formal place to introduce the visiting and Indian delegations prior to the start of the State Banquets hosted by the President of India.

As per Indian Express, the ceiling has six Belgian chandeliers and an assortment of paintings.

This includes one from Fath Ali Shah, the second of seven Qajar rulers of Persia which depicts him hunting a tiger.

Italian artist Tomasso Colonnello was recruited to make sure the rest of the room reflected the forest theme.

“Four more hunting scenes along with inscriptions in Persian were added to beautify the Ashok Hall’s ceiling. The walls of the hall portray a royal procession and while the ceilings were painted directly, the walls were done on huge hung canvasses,” the government website states.

A loft designed in the State Ballroom as a space for the orchestra is now used for playing the national anthem during important functions

“The word ‘Ashok’ connotes someone who is ‘free from all sufferings’ or is ‘bereft of any sorrow’,” the government statement said.

Also, ‘Ashoka’ refers to Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence, it said.

“The national emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath. The word also refers to the Ashok tree, which has deep significance in Indian religious traditions as well as arts and culture.”

“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’,” the government added.

With inputs from agencies