Synopsis
In a historic decision, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has renamed Ajmer's 113-year-old King Edward Memorial to Maharishi Dayanand Vishrant Grih, aiming to eliminate colonial symbols and restore cultural identity.Key Takeaways
- Historic renaming of King Edward Memorial to Maharishi Dayanand Vishrant Grih.
- Part of efforts to eliminate colonial symbols in Rajasthan.
- Decision announced during Maharishi Dayanand's 200th birth anniversary.
- Reflects broader initiative to reclaim cultural heritage.
- Official notification issued by the Cooperative Department.
Jaipur, Feb 12 (NationPress) In a pivotal effort to remove colonial legacies, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has declared the renaming of Ajmer's 113-year-old King Edward Memorial (Rest House) to Maharishi Dayanand Vishrant Grih.
The Cooperative Department formally issued the notification on Tuesday, signaling a significant transformation.
Speaker Devnani had previously revealed this decision during the celebrations for the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, which took place in Ajmer.
With this directive, the King Edward Memorial will now be referred to by its new name, reflecting efforts to restore cultural and historical identity.
Upon instructions from Speaker Devnani, the Cooperative Department began the renaming process, culminating in an official order on Tuesday.
The notification indicates that the King Edward VII Memorial (Rest House) Society, established on September 16, 1975, under the Rajasthan Society Registration Act, 1958, will now be acknowledged as the Maharishi Dayanand Rest House Institute, Ajmer.
The order was signed by Rajiv Kajot, the Registrar of the Cooperative Department.
The King Edward Memorial had long been regarded as a representation of colonial dominance in Ajmer.
Speaker Devnani, dedicated to reclaiming the city's cultural legacy, had proposed the renaming as part of broader efforts to erase remnants of historical oppression.
This decision was disclosed during a recent event at Rishi Udyan, Ajmer, celebrating Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati's 200th birth anniversary.
The renaming of the King Edward Memorial is part of a larger initiative aimed at restoring Ajmer's authentic identity.
Numerous organizations and intellectuals had previously approached Speaker Devnani, advocating for similar transformations.
This has already resulted in the renaming of Hotel Khadim (RTDC) to Hotel Ajaymeru, intended to bolster the city's cultural pride.
Moreover, Speaker Devnani has announced that Foysagar Lake in Ajmer will be renamed Varun Sagar.
The King Edward VII Memorial (Rest House) Society, located near Ajmer Railway Station, was established between 1912 and 1913 to offer affordable lodging for pilgrims visiting Ajmer and Pushkar.
It has been under the Society's management since 1975 and was officially recognized as a historic monument through a State government gazette notification on September 3, 2014.
The complex covers a total area of 17,542 square yards (approximately 9 bighas). This renaming signifies another achievement in Ajmer's cultural resurgence, reinforcing its historical and spiritual importance, as stated by officials.
