For 75 years after Independence, India governed itself from buildings conceived, designed and named by its colonial rulers. The symbolism was impossible to ignore. The imposing South Block and North Block, designed by Herbert Baker in the 1920s, stood as enduring reminders of imperial authority on Raisina Hill. They were architectural marvels, no doubt—but they were not born of a free India’s civilisational confidence. That chapter is now being consciously closed. In a significant and symbolic move, Narendra Modi shifted the Prime Minister’s Office from South Block to the newly christened “Seva Teerth” under the ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Along with the PMO, the Cabinet Secretariat and the National Security Council Secretariat have moved out of the colonial-era structure. After seven decades, India’s executive nerve centre has found a new address—one rooted not in imperial memory but in indigenous philosophy. The name itself speaks volumes. Seva Teerth—a pilgrimage of service. Governance, in the Indian civilisational imagination, was never merely about authority; it was about dharma. Kings were bound by duty, not entitlement. From the ideals embedded in the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the Arthashastra’s emphasis on public welfare, Indian political thought revolved around service to the people. The new nomenclature reflects that ethos. It signals a shift from the language of power to the language of responsibility. Critics may dismiss it as cosmetic. But symbolism matters in nation-building. Names shape consciousness. For decades, independent India functioned within colonial frameworks—legal, administrative, and even psychological. The renaming of Rajpath to Kartavya Path was not merely about a road; it was about redefining the relationship between state and citizen—from imperial rule to national duty. Likewise, the transformation of Race Course Road into Lok Kalyan Marg conveyed a governance philosophy centred on public welfare. Now, Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan I & II extend that continuum.
Built at a reported cost of around ₹1,200 crore, Seva Teerth is part of the larger Central Vista redevelopment launched in 2019. The project has already seen the inauguration of the new Parliament building in 2023 and the operationalisation of the first Common Central Secretariat buildings in 2025. Far from being an exercise in vanity, the initiative addresses long-standing infrastructural and technological limitations of the nearly century-old blocks, which had been retrofitted repeatedly to accommodate modern governance needs. Seva Teerth blends red and yellow sandstone with contemporary, open-floor design. It is earthquake-resistant, technologically integrated, and equipped with modern security systems. A notable addition is “India House,” a dedicated high-level conference facility—something South Block never had, forcing international engagements to be scattered across venues. Functionality, efficiency and security now complement symbolism. More importantly, the shift underlines a broader ideological assertion: India is no longer content to operate under inherited colonial shadows. The NDA government has consistently emphasised decolonisation of the mind—whether through curriculum reforms, reclamation of historical narratives, or renaming public spaces. One may debate individual decisions, but the direction is unmistakable. The move from South Block to Seva Teerth is therefore not about abandoning history; it is about contextualising it. The old buildings will remain as heritage structures, reminders of a complex past. But the epicentre of executive power now reflects civilisational self-belief rather than colonial residue. For a nation that endured two centuries of subjugation, psychological emancipation is as important as political independence. True freedom is not only about self-rule; it is about self-definition. By aligning the seat of governance with the principles of seva and kartavya, the Modi-led government is attempting to institutionalise what ancient Indian statecraft always preached: authority must be anchored in duty, and power must serve the people. Seva Teerth is thus more than a new address. It is a statement of intent. A right move in the right direction—towards reclaiming India’s civilisational spirit and embedding Sanatan principles into the very architecture of governance.
