In a significant move signaling a shift away from colonial vestiges, Raj Bhavans in eight states have been renamed Lok Bhavan following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The directive, issued on November 25, 2025, mandates that all Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas across the country be uniformly renamed as Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas respectively.
The states where this change has been implemented include West Bengal, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. The Governor of West Bengal, C.V. Ananda Bose, officially renamed Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to Lok Bhavan on Saturday, November 29, following the MHA directive. Similarly, in Kerala, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar instructed officials to implement the name change immediately, with the word "Lok Bhavan" to be inscribed in gold letters at the entrance of the Raj Bhavan in Vellayambalam. Uttarakhand also renamed the Raj Bhavans in Dehradun and Nainital as 'Lok Bhavan' with immediate effect. While the exact list of all eight states is not explicitly mentioned in the provided sources, these are among those that have already begun implementing the change.
The decision to rename these historical residences aims to reflect a more people-centric identity, as the term "Raj Bhavan" carries colonial associations. Governor Arlekar of Kerala stated that the renaming marks an important milestone in moving from a "colonial mindset" to a democratic one. He emphasized that as a democratic country with a government of the people, India should reflect the people's will.
The renaming initiative was first proposed by Governor Arlekar himself during the All India Governors' Conference in 2022, when he was serving as the Governor of Bihar. He expressed hope that the people of Kerala would recognize that the institution belonged to them and not to any idea of a 'Raj'.
The Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, for instance, was built in 1803 and has served as the residence of numerous governors-general. Now, as Lok Bhavan, it will continue to serve as the governor's office, but with a renewed focus on public service. Ravinath Raman, secretary to the governor of Uttarakhand, signed the notification that directed the immediate adoption of the new title for all official and administrative purposes. Officials have stated that the new nomenclature aims to reinforce that these institutions exist to serve the public, not a royal authority.
The transition to the new name is expected to be seamless, with signboards, letterheads, official plaques, and digital assets of the governor houses being updated in the coming weeks. The move has been welcomed as a symbolic step towards decolonization and a reaffirmation of India's democratic values.
