Durbar Hall has been renamed as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Hall as Ashok Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan. According to the President’s Secretariat, continuous efforts are being made to make Rashtrapati Bhawan more accessible to people and consistent endeavour to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos. It said, Durbar Hall is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards. 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 ancient times, making Ganatantra Mandap an apt name for the venue.
The President’s Secretariat said, Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom. The word Ashok connotes someone who is free from all sufferings or is bereft of any sorrow. Also, Ashoka refers to Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence. The National Emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath. 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.
