TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 15, 2025: Raj Bhavan in Raipur witnessed a series of significant events on Independence Day, blending tradition, honour and cultural pride. The celebrations included the renaming of the historic Darbar Hall, a grand welcome ceremony attended by eminent personalities, and the release of a coffee table book chronicling the Governor’s year-long district visits.
Governor Ramen Deka, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, formally announced the renaming of the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan as “Chhattisgarh Mandapam.” The Governor unveiled the new name in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Tankaram Verma, Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agrawal, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Arun Dev Gautam and other senior dignitaries. The decision, officials said, reflects the state’s identity and cultural heritage, giving Raj Bhavan a distinctly Chhattisgarhi representation.
Later in the evening, Raj Bhavan hosted a grand welcome ceremony to mark Independence Day, bringing together leaders, achievers and citizens from different walks of life. Governor Deka extended his greetings to the people of the state, while Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai presented a bouquet to the Governor as a gesture of respect and goodwill. First Lady Rani Deka Kakoti was also present on the occasion.
The gathering included Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Tankaram Verma, MLAs, MPs and several senior political leaders. Padma Shri awardees such as Bharatibandhu, Dr. Radheshyam Barle, Usha Barle and Anuj Sharma were among the distinguished invitees, alongside family members of martyrs, recipients of bravery awards, social workers, cultural figures and Brahmakumari sisters.
Senior bureaucrats and officers, including former Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik, Chhattisgarh Sahitya Academy President Shashank Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Renu Pillai, Subrat Sahu, Manoj Pingua, Principal Secretaries Subodh Singh and Sonamni Bora, Secretary to Governor Dr. C.R. Prasanna, Secretary to Chief Minister P. Dayanand, and senior police, army and academic officials also attended. The presence of Vice Chancellors, administrative officers, press representatives and cultural leaders reflected the inclusive spirit of the event.
On the same occasion, Governor Deka released a coffee table book titled Samvriti. The publication documents the Governor’s extensive tours across all districts of Chhattisgarh over the past year. It includes accounts of his meetings with administrative officers, reviews of development schemes, interactions with beneficiaries of government programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and his encouragement to women self-help groups across the state. The book offers a glimpse into grassroots governance and the Governor’s efforts to connect directly with citizens.
The combination of these three events – the unveiling of “Chhattisgarh Mandapam,” the welcome ceremony at Raj Bhavan, and the release of Samvriti – made the Independence Day celebrations at the Governor’s residence both historic and memorable. The day not only honoured the sacrifices of the past but also highlighted the state’s cultural pride, administrative achievements and people-centric governance under the leadership of its constitutional head.
