Portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees are now displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing portraits of 96 British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs). The change, inaugurated on Vijay Diwas, reflects a broader effort by the government to move away from colonial legacies and honor Indian national heroes.
Param Vir Dirgha Inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military honour, awarded for exceptional valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during wartime. The initiative to display the portraits aims to educate visitors about these national heroes and foster a sense of pride in India’s culture and heritage.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, on the occasion of ‘Vijay Diwas’. A release from the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated the move will help shed a colonial mindset.
Shifting Away From Colonial Symbols
The government has been actively working to restore pride in India’s “sanatan values” through various changes. These include renaming Rajpath to Kartavya Path and redesigning the Indian Navy’s ensign, replacing the Saint George’s Cross with a design featuring the National Flag and a Navy blue-gold octagon dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The 2022 Republic Day Beating Retreat ceremony also embraced Indian instruments, such as the sitar, santoor, and tabla, as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Colonial nomenclature has been replaced across India, including in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In 2018, Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island became Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island was rechristened Swaraj Dweep. More recently, in 2024, Port Blair was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram, and 21 islands were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees.
Other changes include renaming the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Mughal Garden to Amrit Udyan and Race Course Road, the location of the Prime Minister’s residence, to Lok Kalyan Marg.
A senior Central government official stated that these initiatives represent a dismantling of colonial legacies.
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