The Delhi University Registrar on Tuesday renamed Mughal Garden in Vice-Regal Lodge on the campus as ‘Gautam Buddha Centenary’ Garden. The university officials said that the garden does not have a Mughal design and hence the rechristening was much required.
Earlier on Saturday, the Rashtrapati Bhavan had changed the name of its Mughal Gardens to ‘Amrit Udyan.’ However, clarifying the coincidence of the name change, an official said that it was just a matter of chance and that the varsity had come to the decision after a prolonged discussion with its Garden Committee.
“The competent authority of the University of Delhi has approved the name of the garden (opposite the Vice Regal Lodge) with the statue of Gautam Buddha in its center as Gautam Buddha Centenary Garden,” reads the official notification by Registrar Vikas Gupta.
The official underlined that the garden was neither built by the Mughals nor has it a Mughal garden design, while the Gautam Buddha statue has been standing in the garden for at least 15 years.
A typical Mughal garden — based on Persian architectural design — comprises canals and pools along the sides, as well as fountains and waterfalls, and has also incorporated features like terraces, and water channels lined with concrete or blue tiles.
The official said that many botanists and people with knowledge of gardens have pointed it out and had asked from time to time about the name change, the official also highlighted that the university is going to host a flower show in March so they decided to change the park’s name ahead of it.
“We want to prepare brochures and pamphlets for the flower show. The recommendation for the change in name was sent to the Vice Chancellor 15 days back and it is a mere coincidence that the Mughal Garden name was also changed,” the official said.
The iconic Mughal Garden of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was renamed Amrit Udyan on Saturday. Earlier on January 28, President Droupadi Murmu gave a common name to the gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as ‘Amrit Udyan’.
“On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the President of India has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan garden as ‘Amrit Udyan’,” said Navika Gupta, Deputy Press Secretary to President on Saturday.
The gardens, designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens, are thrown open to the public once a year. People can visit them from January 31 onwards this year.