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Rashtrapati Bhavan

Debates rage in the trad community as to whether, in the context of India, it is more sound to support the Congress Party or to take some relief in the policies of Mr Modi and his Indian People’s Party (curiously always known in English as the BJP).

Presented with the choice of left-leaning instability with Congress or Hindutva-oriented instability with the BJP, one recalls Hofrat Kissinger’s comment about the Iran-Iraq War: “Isn’t it a shame they can’t both lose?”

But the recent visit to India of my fellow New Yorker, His Excellency the President of the United States, necessitated his calling in to one of the grandest residences of any head of state the world over: Rashtrapati Bhavan, the residence of the President of India.

Originally called Viceroy’s House, it was designed by Lutyens as the palace of one of the most powerful men on the face of the planet: the Viceroy of India.

But the building of this magnificent structure was an imperial swansong. Opened in 1931, just sixteen years later the subcontinent was partitioned, the Indian Empire and its Viceroy abolished. The Union of India took its place, with a Governor General instead of a Viceroy.

In 1950, this too was abolished as the Union became a republic, and the office of governor general was given a republican whitewash and renamed as President of India.

This head of state is not elected by the voters of the world’s largest democracy except indirectly through a combined college of the national parliament and the state legislative assemblies. Like a governor general, he does have some power but the real force lies in the prime minister — today Mr Modi.

Nevertheless, this building reflects the glory, power, and influence of one of the greatest nations of the earth.

Published at 11:40 am on Wednesday 4 March 2020. Categories: Architecture Tags: , , .
Comments

Andrew –

A very impressive building. If I recall correctly the President of India also has the use of several other British built palaces throughout the country.

Also do I recall correctly that tradition calls for the President to live in the guest wing of Rashtrapati Bhavan since the old viceroy’s suite is considered too opulent?

Thanks.

— Harold Arnwine 5 Mar 2020 2:38 pm

It is called the ‘BJP’ in English because that is the acronym of the name of the ruling party if it’s name were to pronounced and spelled in English. For example, I believe that the German Communist Party is called the ‘DKP’. DKP is the acronym for the German name Deutsche Kommunistische Partei

Similarly BJP stands for the ‘Bharatiya Janata Party’ which is the name of the party in the national language ie Hindi. The English translation of which is ‘Indian People’s Party’.

— Shriya Misra 22 Mar 2020 10:00 pm
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