Eight states and one Union Territory have renamed their governor/lieutenant governor’s residences from ‘Raj Bhavan/Raj Niwas’ to ‘Lok Bhavan/Lok Niwas’. This change, prompted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to remove colonial-era nomenclature. The directive follows a suggestion at a governors’ conference to shed the term ‘Raj Bhavan’ due to its colonial association. Workers remove the Raj Bhavan signboard in front of the Kerala Governor’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram Monday NEW DELHI: Eight states and a Union territory have changed the name of their governor/lieutenant governor’s house from ‘Raj Bhavan/Raj Niwas’ to ‘Lok Bhavan/Lok Niwas’ following a directive from ministry of home affairs (MHA) to shed the earlier nomenclature associated with colonial era.In a letter to principal secretaries or secretaries to state governors and lieutenant governors of UTs, the home ministry cited the suggestion made at the conference of governors held last year “to rename ‘Raj Bhavans’ as ‘Lok Bhavans’ as the word ‘Raj Bhavan’ smacks of colonialism.”“Accordingly, it is requested that offices of governor and office of Lt governor may be named as ‘Lok Bhavan’ and ‘Lok Niwas’, respectively, for all official purposes,” said the MHA directive.Taking cue from the MHA letter, states/UTs have started shedding the word ‘Raj’ from the nomenclature of governor/lieutenant governor’s residence-cum-office. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Gujarat and Tripura have effected the change and renamed ‘Raj Bhavan’ as ‘Lok Bhavan’. Ladakh’s Raj Niwas, the official residence and office of LG Kavinder Gupta, has been renamed as ‘Lok Niwas’.The Modi govt has been working on shedding the vestiges of India’s colonial past; it had earlier renamed Rajpath as Kartavya Path and has been using ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ in many official communications. Govt websites now first show content in Hindi, though there is an option to view it in English. The band at the Beating Retreat ceremony now no longer plays English hymns like ‘Abide with me’.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWatch: MPs Speak Out as SIR Row Dominates Winter Session OpeningIndia’s Elections Earn Global Praise, CEC Calls It A ‘Moment Of Pride’ Amid Vote Row ClaimsHaryana Bodybuilder Killed After Standing Up To Harassers; Family Says Attack Was Planned MurderModi Trolls Opposition Over Bihar Setback Days Before Parliament ShowdownWoman Marries Boyfriend’s Corpse After Family Kills Him, Alleges Police Provoked BrotherMajor Twist In BrahMos Espionage Case As Higher Court Acquits Scientist Of Passing Defence SecretsRamaphosa Praises PM Modi’s Endorsement of South Africa Hosting G20 Summit, Counters Trump’s Claims‘Is There Any Law?’ Renuka Chaudhary Sparks Row After Bringing Stray Dog to ParliamentBSF IG Warns Of Looming Threat As 120 Terrorists Wait In PoK Despite Dip In Infiltration AttemptsPakistan Rages At UN After Criticism Of Munir’s Immunity Amendment Amid Fears Of Deeper Militarism123PhotostoriesKamal Haasan performances that redefined Indian cinema foreverIncrease protein intake: 4 easy ways to add more of it to everyday diet3 powerful anti-inflammatory drinks and how to make them at homeFrom Dead Sea Scrolls to Hope Diamond, 7 priceless objects in the world7 dinner dishes made with leftover roti offering over 20 gms protein5 animals that camouflage so perfectly that they almost become invisibleHow to make fiber-rich Gobhi ka Paratha for breakfastPrepare your child for the next solar eclipse: 10 interesting facts to share5 low-glycemic superfoods that can help prevent blood sugar spikesPriyanka Chopra, Smriti Irani to Rajat Bedi: Actors are reviving their careers with major comebacks in 2025123Hot PicksParliament Winter SessionCyclone DitwahWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingCardi BShedeur SandersDrake MayePat McAfeeCandace Owens Net WorthGisele BndchenConnor McDavidLian BichselJayden StrubleAnthony Davis
NEW DELHI: Eight states and a Union territory have changed the name of their governor/lieutenant governor’s house from ‘Raj Bhavan/Raj Niwas’ to ‘Lok Bhavan/Lok Niwas’ following a directive from ministry of home affairs (MHA) to shed the earlier nomenclature associated with colonial era.In a letter to principal secretaries or secretaries to state governors and lieutenant governors of UTs, the home ministry cited the suggestion made at the conference of governors held last year “to rename ‘Raj Bhavans’ as ‘Lok Bhavans’ as the word ‘Raj Bhavan’ smacks of colonialism.”“Accordingly, it is requested that offices of governor and office of Lt governor may be named as ‘Lok Bhavan’ and ‘Lok Niwas’, respectively, for all official purposes,” said the MHA directive.Taking cue from the MHA letter, states/UTs have started shedding the word ‘Raj’ from the nomenclature of governor/lieutenant governor’s residence-cum-office. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Gujarat and Tripura have effected the change and renamed ‘Raj Bhavan’ as ‘Lok Bhavan’. Ladakh’s Raj Niwas, the official residence and office of LG Kavinder Gupta, has been renamed as ‘Lok Niwas’.The Modi govt has been working on shedding the vestiges of India’s colonial past; it had earlier renamed Rajpath as Kartavya Path and has been using ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ in many official communications. Govt websites now first show content in Hindi, though there is an option to view it in English. The band at the Beating Retreat ceremony now no longer plays English hymns like ‘Abide with me’.
