The demise of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022 caused many to shed tears. However, some countries in the British Commonwealth had quite the opposite reaction. For example, in India social media was pouring with hatred against the late ruler for the crimes committed by her ancestors on Indian soil. While this may be unrelated, but it is on the same date that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the historic Rajpath at India Gate in New Delhi. The name was changed to Kartavya Path and a massive granite statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was installed in it to commemorate India’s struggle for freedom from the British.

Kartavya Path – All Details

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kartavya Path on 8th September 2022. Here are some basic details of this road and national monument to get you started with.

  • Location: Runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill through Vijay Chowk and India Gate, National War Memorial to National Stadium, Delhi.
  • Inaugurated: 8th September 2022.
  • Length: 3 kilometers
  • History: Its historic name was Kingsway. Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker constructed this ceremonial boulevard. The engineers named it Kingsway to honor the then emperor of the British Empire, King George V. After independence it was rename Rajpath.
  • Cost of redevelopment: INR 477 Crore
  • Contractors: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited
  • Commercial real estate: The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has sanctioned commercial real estate space for 40 vendors at this location.
  • Project name: The Modi government named this redevelopment project as the Central Vista Avenue project.

Kartavya Path – Special Attraction

While the Kartavya Path is merely a road, the real attractions on this road are Netaji’s statue and the Central Vista. These attractions were inaugurated on 9th September 2022. The first public show at the Central Vista welcomed visitors with a drone show. A group of 300 illuminated drones took the sky and drew Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s face with lights. Apart from this, the 28-feet tall black granite statue of Netaji is also a glaring example of PM Modi’s commitment.

Controversy About Queen’s Passing

All of these developmental projects are in national interest, as proclaimed by PM Modi. However, there is some controversy brewing online about the date of their inauguration. The British Queen Elizabeth II passed away on 8th September 2022 which coincides with the date of inauguration. Hence, some say that this was a proclamation by India denouncing the colonial hegemony. Whether or not this is true, these monumental achievements of the Indian government sure do instill feelings of nationalism in us all.

Takeaway

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is one of the most iconic freedom fighters of India. He single-handedly led the Indian struggle for freedom in 1943. After his demise, India finally achieved independence just 4 years later. According to PM Modi, there are so many such iconic personalities that are linked not just with the freedom struggle but also with Indian spirituality, that need to be honored. For example, Amogh Lila Prabhu is recently turning heads across social media for his exceptional spiritual beliefs. It is personalities like these that inspire us to write!