Relevance: GS I (Modern History & Post-Independence) | Source: The Hindu / PIB

1. Why is this in the News?

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a beautiful bust of C. Rajagopalachari (fondly called Rajaji) at the grand staircase of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• A Big Shift: His bust has permanently replaced the statue of Edwin Lutyens, the British architect who designed New Delhi.
• The Meaning: The President called this a major step toward “mental decolonisation.” It means India is proudly removing the psychological baggage of British rule and honouring its own true national heroes.

2. Who was C. Rajagopalachari?

Rajaji was a brilliant thinker, a top freedom fighter from South India, and a very close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.

• A Historic First: When the British left, he became the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India (1948–1950).
• Gandhi’s Voice: Because of his sharp mind and strong morals, Mahatma Gandhi used to call him his “Conscience-Keeper.”
• Top Award: In 1954, he was among the very first batch of great Indians to receive the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.

3. His Major Contributions

For your exams, you must remember the three biggest things he did for modern India:

• The C.R. Formula (1944): Before independence, there was a huge political fight between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League (who wanted Pakistan). Rajaji came up with a smart political plan, known as the C.R. Formula, to solve this deadlock and get both sides to agree on demanding independence from the British first.
• The Swatantra Party (1959): Rajaji strongly disagreed with Jawaharlal Nehru’s socialist style of running the economy. He founded the Swatantra Party, which demanded a free-market economy. He was the first to strongly oppose the “License-Permit Raj” (heavy government control over private businesses).
• Literature & Culture: He was a master writer. He translated the great Indian epics—the Ramayana and the Mahabharata—into very simple English, helping the whole world understand India’s rich culture.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to the life and contributions of C. Rajagopalachari, consider the following statements:

1. He was the first and only Indian citizen to serve as the Governor-General of independent India.
2. The C.R. Formula (1944) was a political plan proposed by him to resolve the constitutional deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League.
3. He was a strong supporter of the “License-Permit Raj” and heavily supported the socialist economic models of the 1950s.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)