Shedding the colonial baggage

Burying two more vestiges of colonialism, the New India of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced its glorious identity with a resolve to embark upon the path of duty. The renaming of the newly-laid historic stretch of Janpath to Kartavya Path and the installation of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s statue under the India Gate canopy go far beyond symbolism; and that is the subject of our Cover Story. As part of a package, we carry two more reports on an inside page and the visual coverage of the momentous event on the Centrespread. The Cover Story confines itself to the coverage of the event, incorporating some loaded remarks made on the occasion by PM Modi. “Kartavya Path is not just a road of bricks and stones,” he said, “It is a living example of India’s democratic past and all-time ideals.” Emphasising that these changes now form part of his Government’s policies, the PM cited several decisions, including repeal of repugnant colonial laws and abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, to stress his point.

The other story in the package explains that in reinforcing ‘kartavya’ in its redesign of the Central Vista, the Modi Government is stressing upon the Constitution’s reference to fundamental duties. Going back, the report recalls the 42nd Amendment of 1976 through which ten duties were incorporated initially and the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002 by the Vajpayee Government. Though not enforceable by law, a court may take them into account while adjudicating a matter, says our report.

The third story is purely from a historical perspective – the origin of the three-km stretch of road from Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate and its transition from Kingsway to Janpath to Kartavya Path.

Maintaining that the latest name-change is not mere cosmetic, our report says that it testifies the significance of PM Modi’s I-Day speech wherein he stressed on the abolition of symbols relating to colonial mind-set. Besides, the report packs in plenty of archival material on the building of New Delhi and the significance of various landmarks in and around India Gate. Additionally, we publish select photographs of the Central Vista inauguration event on the Centrespread.

Armenia, a former Soviet republic, located in the mountainous Caucuses region between Asia and Europe, is our Globetrotting destination this week. The IndoArmenian economic, cultural and scientific relations are a testimony to the long-shared history of the two countries, says our report. It highlights the landmark visit of India’s External Affairs Minister to Armenia last year, the first such visit in the 30-year history of the Republic. The report also describes how the two countries have been backing each other in various world forums.

On the World Page, pays homage to Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest recorded of any female head of state in history.

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