West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose has officially renamed the Governor’s residence in Kolkata. The iconic “Raj Bhavan” will now be known as “Lok Bhavan.” The Governor implemented the Ministry of Home Affairs’ directive issued on November 25, 2025, which mandates renaming Raj Bhavans across the country.

The newly named Lok Bhavan continues to serve as both the Governor’s residence and his administrative office.

A symbolic transition
In an official notification, the Governor recalled that on March 27, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu had handed over the symbolic keys of the then Raj Bhavan to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at his request. He described that moment as the beginning of a new chapter — the transformation of Raj Bhavan into Jan Raj Bhavan, a people-centric institution.

Raj Bhavan becomes Lok Bhavan
The notification states: “In pursuance of the letter dated 25.11.2025 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the names of ‘Raj Bhavan’, Flagstaff House, Kolkata, and ‘Raj Bhavan’, Darjeeling, have been amended to ‘Lok Bhavan’. This comes into effect immediately.”

Governor shares message on social media
Governor Bose shared multiple posts explaining the intent behind the change. He said the goal of Jan Raj Bhavan was to make the building more accessible, humane, and reflective of people’s aspirations. He emphasized that the Raj Bhavan should not be a symbol of fear, but a place rooted in public welfare.

He highlighted that over the past three years, Jan Raj Bhavan initiated several welfare and outreach activities. It made efforts to stand with citizens during incidents of violence, natural calamities, or allegations of injustice.

Nationwide renaming under central directive
Bose further explained that all Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas across the country have now been renamed as Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas, in line with the Centre’s broader vision. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the move aligns with a development-driven, people-first governance model.

Official changes underway
The Governor’s Office confirmed that official letterheads, signage, gate nameplates, and the website will now display “Lok Bhavan” instead of “Raj Bhavan.” All buildings under the Governor’s jurisdiction will also adopt the new name.