The name of New Delhi’s historic Rajpath is set to be changed to ‘Kartavya Path’, media reports said on Monday, September 5, 2022. Rajpath was a Hindi translation of Kingsway, the ceremonial boulevard’s name during British rule, named after King George V. He had visited India in 1911 when the decision to move the British Raj’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi was formally proclaimed.
The move is in line with the push for decolonisation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent days. Earlier, the Indian Naval ensign was changed this month to remove St George’s Cross from the ensign, and the Scottish hymn ‘Abide By Me’ was removed from the Beating Retreat ceremony during Republic Day celebrations. PM Modi had stressed upon deloconisation during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort this year.