New Delhi – 80 years of a capital city (1931 to 2010)
New Delhi the capital of India is entering into its 80th year being as a capital city of India. We thought to bring some history to the notice of our readers. On 10th February in 1931 delhi was formally made capital of India.
Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Raj untill 1931. Although, Delhi was political and financial centre of several empires of ancient and medieval India including Mughal Empire from 1799 to 1849. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the capital of the Indian Empire from Calcutta to Delhi. Unlike Calcutta, which was located on the eastern coast of India, Delhi was located in northern India and the Government of British India felt that it would be easier to administer India from Delhi rather than from Calcutta.
On December 12, 1911, George V, the then Emperor of India along with Queen Mary, during the Delhi Durbar, made the announcement that the capital of the Raj was to be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi, while laying the foundation stone for Viceroy’s residence in the Coronation park.
Edwin Lutyens planned a capital
Much of New Delhi was planned by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the former of whom was a leading 20th century British architect, and contracted to Sir Sobha Singh. Lutyens first visited Delhi in 1912, and construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931, when the city later dubbed “Lutyens’ Delhi” was inaugurated. Lutyens laid out the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britain’s imperial aspirations.
Present day Delhi
Mush of the work done by Edwin Lutyens is infact used by Government in India. Our Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Quarters where our politicians live and more was made by him. The Delhi however has many more additions to its fold including stadiums (being built for upcoming commonwealth games), Delhi Metro, satelite towns of Gurgain and Noida with all its high rises, apartments, malls. the are problems but there are positive aspects as well.
We wish best to Delhi on its 80th birthday as a capital.
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