New Delhi: The Centre renamed the iconic Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall in Rastrapati Bhavan to Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, respectively. Both the halls were the esteemed venues for several ceremonial functions, India Today reported.
When the Durbar Hall was a venue where the presentation of national awards was carried out, Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom.
Centre issued an official statement and said that 'durbar' lost relevance after India became a Republic. Darbar refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British, the statement said.
"The concept of 'Ganatantra' is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times, making 'Ganatantra Mandap' an apt name for the venue," the statement said.
Further, the statement clarified that reaming Ashok Hall to Ashok Mandap brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation, but the core values of the word 'Ashok' are retained.
"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. The word also refers to the Ashok tree, which has deep significance in Indian religious traditions as well as arts and culture," the Centre's statement says.