In a significant move shedding colonial legacy, the official residence of the Governor in Thiruvananthapuram has been formally renamed. Raj Bhavan Kerala is now officially known as Lok Bhavan, following instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to implement similar changes across the country.
From Raj to Lok: A Democratic Milestone
Governor Rajendra Arlekar announced the change in a statement on Monday, heralding it as an important milestone. He emphasized that this renaming marks a conscious shift away from a 'colonial mindset' to a democratic one. The Governor congratulated the people of Kerala for embracing this new perspective, which he said is in tune with the evolving times.
The proposal to rename Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan was first introduced by Arlekar himself at the All India Governors Conference in 2022, when he was serving as the Governor of Bihar. The idea has now come to fruition in Kerala, aligning with a national initiative.
Opening Doors to the Public
The statement from the Governor's office highlighted that Raj Bhavan Kerala had already taken several steps to become more accessible to citizens. These initiatives included organizing public lectures on relevant topics. Notable events featured talks like 'Operation Sindoor' by S Gurumurthy and 'Global Economic Trends: India's Challenges and Prospects' by V Anantha Nageswaran, the Chief Economic Advisor.
Governor Arlekar made a heartfelt appeal to the people of Kerala, urging them to wholeheartedly support this initiative and help transform the institution into a 'Lok Bhavan' in its truest sense—a building belonging to the people.
Physical Change Reflects Ideological Shift
The physical transformation began on Monday with the removal of the old, copper-lettered 'Raj Bhavan' nameplate from the gates of the historic building. According to sources from Lok Bhavan, a new plaque bearing the updated name is currently being prepared and will be installed soon.
This renaming is part of a broader, symbolic effort to distance India's institutions from their British-era nomenclature and rebrand them to reflect the sovereignty of its people. The change in Thiruvananthapuram stands as a concrete example of this ongoing national transformation.
