Name Change of Darbar Hall and Ashok Hall

• Date: July 25, 2024
• Announcement By: President Droupadi Murmu

Name Changes:

• Darbar Hall renamed to Gantantra Mandal
• Ashok Hall renamed to Ashok Mandap

Darbar Hall:

• Significance: Venue for important ceremonies, including the presentation of national awards.
• Meaning of ‘Darbar’: Refers to the courts of Indian rulers and the British.
• Relevance: The term ‘Darbar’ lost its significance after India became a republic.

• New Name: ‘Gantantra Mandal’ is suitable as it reflects the ancient concept of a republic.

Ashok Hall:

• History: Originally a ballroom.
• Meaning of ‘Ashok’: Means ‘free from all sorrows’ or ‘free from any suffering.’
• Symbolism: Represents Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful coexistence.
• National Symbol: The lion at the top of the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is the national emblem of India.
• New Name: ‘Ashok Mandap’ maintains linguistic uniformity and preserves the values associated with the term ‘Ashok,’ while removing Anglicization.