India, March 2 -- On February 23, 2026, a quiet but symbolically loaded ceremony unfolded within the sprawling precincts of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The last British-era statue was removed from its pedestal. In its place appeared the bust of C Rajagopalachari - Rajaji to admirers - the first and only Indian to serve as Governor-General after Independence. The unveiling, performed by President Droupadi Murmu in the presence of Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, was presented as another step in India's march toward "decolonising the mind."

The venue itself carries layers of irony. The grand complex, once the Viceroy's House, was designed to embody imperial permanence. Yet its first Indian occupant was Rajaji himself, who took office in 1948 as th...