Colonial-era Raj Bhavan rechristened as Lok Bhavan
Shimla, Dec 10,
Himachal Pradesh’s historic Raj Bhavan, a colonial-era institution and famous for India -Pakistan Shimla Samjhauta would now be known as Lok Bhavan.
The Governor’s Secretariat on Tuesday issued the formal notification, bringing the new name into effect immediately.
The change follows a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, marking yet another step in the Centre’s campaign to give key institutions names that reflect public service rather than authority.
This renaming aligns with a larger national shift. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently rechristened the Prime Minister’s Office as Seva Teerth, signalling what the government describes as a decisive move away from the symbolism of power. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, announcing the broader renaming of Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas across the country, said the transformation represents an “important milestone in building a developed and better India.”
For Shimla, the shift is more than just a new nameplate at the gates of the stately British-era building. It marks an attempt to recast the role of the Governor’s house—from a symbol of elite authority to a space meant to embody the idea of governance rooted in public good.
With the notification issued, Raj Bhavan now officially steps into its new identity as Lok Bhavan, carrying with it both history and a renewed narrative of people-centric governance.
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