Mughal gardens at the President’s official home, Rashtrapati Bhavan, have been given a common name. This was done as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations. The old road sign that stated “Mughal Gardens” was removed and taken away in a bulldozer.
“On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the President of India has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens as Amrit Udyan,” Deputy Press Secretary to President Navika Gupta said.
There are three gardens in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, inspired by Mughal and Persian gardens. The public and the authorities started calling the one inspired by a garden with the same name in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar “Mughal Gardens”. But the gardens were never officially named “Mughal Gardens”. Spread over 15 acres, Amrit Udyan has often been portrayed as the soul of the presidential palace.
Amrit Udyan draws its inspiration from the Mughal Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens around the Taj Mahal and even miniature paintings of India and Persia, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s website.
“The Amrit Udyan had up till now been opened for the public only during the annual festival, Udyan Utsav, held in the months of February-March. But the gardens, which form the third circuit of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tour, will now be open for the public from August till March,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s website says.
“Welcome and thank President Droupadi Murmu ji for renaming the iconic gardens at the President House as Amrit Udyan. This new name not only shreds yet another symbol of a colonial relic but also reflects India’s aspirations for the Amrit kaal,” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted.
Bihar BJP leader Devesh Kumar tweeted “Symbol of slavery eliminated. To come out of the slavery mentality in Amrit kal, was another historic decision of the Modi government. The Mughal Garden in Rashtrapati Bhavan will now be known as Amrit Udyan”.
