Beyond colonial shadows: The symbolic shift from South Block to Seva Teerth

The unveiling of ‘Seva Teerth’ as the name for the new complex housing the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), and the Cabinet Secretariat marks a definitive moment in India’s administrative evolution. For decades, the corridors of power in New Delhi were defined by nomenclature inherited from the British Raj, names that carried the weight of imperial authority and a colonial hierarchy.

However, since 2014, there has been a concerted effort to recalibrate India’s national identity. By shedding these linguistic relics, the government is not merely changing signboards, it is attempting to rewire the relationship between the state and its citizens. This transition from “rule” to “service” is the cornerstone of a broader cultural decolonisation project.

The transition from South Block to Seva Teerth

The decision to rename the core administrative hub as Seva Teerth is perhaps the most symbolic shift to date. For nearly a century, “South Block” was a term synonymous with high-stakes diplomacy and national security, housed within the sandstone grandeur designed by Herbert Baker. While the physical architecture remains a marvel of the Lutyens era, the new name reflects a change in philosophy.

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“Seva” translates to service, and “Teerth” refers to a pilgrimage site or a sacred place. By combining these, the government seeks to project the image of the PMO not as a fortress of power, but as a shrine of public service. This move is intended to break the psychological barrier between the governed and the governors, framing administrative work as a duty rather than a privilege.

Reimagining the central axis of power

Central to this transformation is the overhaul of the Central Vista. The legendary Rajpath, once the “King’s Way,” has been rechristened Kartavya Path (Path of Duty). This change is more than semantic, it represents a pivot from the celebration of imperial majesty to the acknowledgment of democratic responsibility. Similarly, the Central Secretariat, the engine room of the Indian bureaucracy, is now referred to as Kartavya Bhavan.

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These changes serve as a constant reminder to the thousands of officials who traverse these spaces daily that their primary objective is the fulfilment of their duty toward the nation. The renaming of the Prime Minister’s residence from Race Course Road to Lok Kalyan Marg (Public Welfare Way) further reinforces this narrative, aligning the leader’s private residence with the public’s well-being.

Erasing the footprints of colonial governance

The drive to decolonise the Indian mindset extends beyond the capital’s landmarks. The proposal to rename Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas (the residences of Governors and Lieutenant Governors) to Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas targets the very heart of state-level protocol.

The term “Raj” is inextricably linked to the British Crown’s direct rule over India. By replacing it with “Lok” (the people), the government is signalling that the constitutional heads of states are representatives of a democratic republic, not remnants of a vice-regal past. This systematic scrubbing of colonial terminology is designed to foster a sense of indigenous pride and to ensure that the nomenclature of the state reflects the aspirations of a modern, independent India.

A broader cultural and psychological shift

Critics often argue that renaming buildings and streets is a superficial exercise that does not change the underlying mechanics of governance. However, from a sociological perspective, symbols and names are the tools through which a nation constructs its identity. By removing the names of colonial icons and replacing them with terms rooted in Indian ethos, the government is engaging in “memory work.” It is an attempt to heal the “slave mentality” that the Prime Minister has frequently cited as a hurdle to national progress. When a citizen walks through Kartavya Path toward Seva Teerth, the linguistic environment encourages a sense of ownership over the state, rather than a feeling of being a subject of an alien system.

The impact on India’s global image

This shift also resonates on the international stage. As India asserts itself as a “Vishwa Mitra” (friend to the world) and a leading global economy, it is increasingly keen to project an identity that is authentically its own. Moving away from the shadows of the British Empire allows India to present a decolonised face to the world.

The new names are not just for domestic consumption, they are a statement of sovereignty. They signal that India is no longer defined by its history of being ruled, but by its current capacity to rule itself through the principles of service, duty, and public welfare.