Close on the heels of a BJP MlA raking up a controversy over his demand for the demolition of Jinnha House in south Mumbai, another senior ruling party MlA now wants the historic “Gateway of India”, also in south Mumbai, to be renamed as “Bharat Dwaar”.
less than three months after six-term legislator from Malabar Hill and real-estate developer Mangal Prabat lodha seeking the demolition of Jinnah House, another five-time BJP MlA Raj Purohit on Wednesday stirred up a hornet’s nest by rooting for the renaming of Mumbai’s prominent landmark as “Bharat Dwaar”.
“The Gateway of India is a symbol of 150 years of British Raj and our slavery. Freedom fighters spent their whole lives to free the country from the clutches of the British. Many of them even laid down their lives. If anything, we are reaping the benefits of the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. But, it is unfortunate that we go around the place narrating the history of our slavery,” Purohit stated in his letter to Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Making a strong case for the renaming of “Gateway of India” as “Bharat Dwaar”, Purohit said at a news conference he addressed later “We renamed Bombay as Mumbai, Malbar Hill as Walkeshwar, Victoria Terminus (VT) as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Prince of Wales Museum as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastusangralay, Victoria Jubilee Technological Institute (VJTI) as Veeramata Jijabhai Technological Institute and Crawford Market as Mahtma Phule Mandai. Seventy years have passed since India’s Independent, why can’t we rename Gateway of India as Bharat Dwaar.”
The Gateway of India was built to celebrate and honour the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India for their formal proclamation as Emperor and Empress of India at the Delhi Durbar in December, 1911. The foundation stone for the monument was laid by Sir George Sydenham Clarke, the Governor of Bombay on 31 March, 1911 at what was a crude jetty used by the fishing community. The Gateway of India was formally inaugurated by the Viceroy of India, Rufus Isaacs, Earl of Reading, on December 4, 1924.
The Scottish architect George Wittet combined the elements of the Roman triumphal arch and the 16th-century architecture of Gujarat. Its design is a combination of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles; the arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style. The gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete.
Purohit, who currently represents Colaba Constituency in south Mumbai, is also the chief whip of the BJP in Maharashtra legislative Assembly.
Purohit’s clamour renaming of “Gateway of India” comes in the wake of a controversy raked up by another BJP MlA lodha in the last week of March this year over his demand for the demolition of Jinnah House.
Interestingly enough, lodha had made an identical argument while clamouring for the demolition of Jinnah House. “The Jinnah House is a symbol of Partition and slavery…it needs to be demolished,” lodha had said.
lodha’s contention was that prior to the Independence, a conspiracy was hatched to divide the country into three pieces at the Jinnah House.
“As per the Enemy Property Act, it has become the Government’s property. There is no other option but to demolish it. The Jinnah House has been looked after by
Public Works Department and lakhs of rupees are spent every year for maintenance,” lodha had said.
On Jinnah’s daughter Dina Wadia’s claim to the property, lodha had said, “Jinnah divided India and his heir cannot claim any right to it.”
lodha had suggested that after its demolition, a cultural centre should be built at the site where the Jinnah House stood.