In India, a statue of an independence hero replaces that of a British architect

Edwin Lutyens played a pivotal role in the construction of New Delhi, known as "Lutyens' Delhi", by designing some of its iconic buildings, including the Parliament building constructed in the early 20th century.

His statue was replaced by that of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, known as Rajaji, a famous jurist and writer, who also served as minister and governor-general of independent India from 1948 to 1950.

"This initiative is part of a series of measures aimed at shedding vestiges of the colonial mindset and embracing, with pride, the richness of India's culture," President Droupadi Murmu said in a statement.

Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long sought to erase the vestiges of British rule.

In 2023, he inaugurated the new Indian Parliament building in New Delhi, designed by Mr. Lutyens and his British colleague Herbert Baker.

Mr. Modi said that this decision to replace the bust of Lutyens is part of initiatives to "end a servitude mentality".

"We allowed the statues of British administrators to remain... but we refused to make room for those of the nation's greatest sons," he said in a radio address on Saturday.

"Today, the country is leaving behind this colonial mentality."

In 2022, the Indian government unveiled a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, an independence hero revered for taking up arms against the British, but also controversial for his collaboration with Nazi Germany.

The statue of "Netaji" - "the leader", as he is known in India - was unveiled near the War Memorial in New Delhi, on the very spot where an old statue of King George V stood before being toppled fifty years ago.