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SHIFTING OF CAPITAL from to New

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R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 1 CONTENTS

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1911, A Very Different Story ...... 1 Delhi 100 years of history ...... 2 - 4 100 years of GLORY ...... 5 - 8 Stunning almost didn’t happen ...... 9 Petrol just 30p a litre, but speeding could cost Rs 100 .... 10 Royal gifts: Phones, train and electricity ...... 11 10 days, 1111 booms ...... 12 Century scored as city drops catch ...... 13 A milestone missed in December haze ...... 14 Witness a Capital Change ...... 15 - 16 comes of age ...... 17 - 20 Delhi celebrates its centenary year ...... 21 No full stops in Delhi: CM ...... 22 - 23 Life and times in Delhi ...... 24 A Future for the Past ...... 25 - 26 5HSDLUQRG+RSHÁRDWVIRUKRXVHVLQKHULWDJH]RQH      Who’s Afraid of Swami & Friends? ...... 28 - 31 Filling The ’s Blanks ...... 32 - 33 The Evolution of a World-Class City ...... 34 Bhopura-Loni Road in Tatters ...... 35

R.G.Gupta 2 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF CAPITAL CENTURY NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011 15 Delhi in those days was a scared and scarred city, still struggling to cope with the ravages of 1857 and lagging behind younger rivals on most fronts 1911, a very different story ABHILASH GAUR TIMES NEWS NETWORK t’s been a 100-year race and the outcome is absolutely poetic. IDelhi, completing a century as capital of India, is once again its largest and most populous city, ahead of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras —all hand-reared products of the Raj. But a hundred years ago, few would have put their money on Delhi. Its sunset started in the 18th century, turning into one interminable night after the events of 1857, when the British systematically avenged ‘Palace of the King’, themselves upon it. or the Red Fort Delhi in 1911 was still a scarred in a 19th-Century city. Meanwhile, younger rivals lithography by were thriving. Bombay, Calcutta and Charles Hardinge. His Madras were already the country’s namesake and son was three biggest cities, with Bombay India’s viceroy from touching the million-mark. Delhi’s 1910 to 1916 erstwhile subject-cities —Lucknow and Hyderabad— had outgrown it too. Delhi lagged in literacy and medical facilities— only 3% of the population could read English. Few foreigners were drawn to it (Meerut had 2,162 while Delhi had 992). Its economy was heavily agrarian, and modern trades like power generation and news publishing had few takers. As a city, Delhi was way behind its time. For example, one of the occupational heads in the 1911 census LV³7R\NLWHFDJH¿VKLQJWDFNOHHWF makers, taxidermists etc”. The listed products symbolize a medieval- decadent lifestyle. Bombay with 979,445 people had only 61 workers in this trade, while Delhi had 230 for its 232,837 residents. All that is history A century on, 1911’s has-been city is happening like never before.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 1 New Delhi, Monday, December 12, 2011 10 my city htcity

An oil painting by Roderick Mackenzie depicting the of 1903 during the coronation of King Edward VII. The procession was led by the Viceroy Lord Curzon, followed by the Duke of A panoramic view of Connaught and then Delhi from the Lahore the of of Red Fort, painted by Mazhar Ali Khan in 1846. Fine writing at the bottom of the image includes names of the areas depicted. The work is from the collection of the British Library, London As the Capital celebrates its centenary, an exhibition sources maps from the 19th century, images from the royal courts and early 20th century as tribute to its past!

A view of North Block and South Block, with the base of the covered in scaffolding from Delhi, the collection of the British Library 100 years of history HT Delhi 100 Conclave

As the Capital turns 100, Hindustan Times presents New Delhi 100 Conclave, a platform to solicit, debate and document the views and ideas of eminent stakeholders in the city. Present at the conclave will be dignatories including Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and experts such as AGK Menon and OP Jain, among others. When: December 15 Where: Shahjahan Hall, Taj Palace Hotel, Sardar Patel Marg, Timings: 6.30pm onwards

R.G.Gupta 2 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. New Delhi, Monday, December 12, 2011 10 my city htcity

A map of Shahjahanabad by a Delhi cartographer made in 1846-47, is one of the most accurate of the maps of the city from before its destruction in 1858. From the British Library, London

Damini Purkayastha from the time of Mughal [email protected] emperors to more recent Hundred years ago, on images of Lutyens Delhi December 12, a grand covered in scaffolding. congregation of royalty “It’s the 100th anniversary and British soldiers of the Capital and we assembled at the Delhi always knew that we Durbar as King wanted to do something, proclaimed Delhi as the and thought a seminal new Capital of Imperial pictorial exhibition like India. Celebrating the this has never really been centenary, are a series done before. 80% of the of exhibitions across exhibition is based on town and even a special our book Red Fort to conclave with leaders Raisina, which launches organised by Hindustan tonight, and about 20% Times. One such event is has been sourced just for the exhibition, Delhi: Red the show,” says Kapoor, Fort To Raisina, curated who has spent the last by Pramod Kapoor of Roli two months putting the Books. The exhibition, exhibition together. The which kicks off at the Indira collection has paintings, Gandhi National Centre watercolours, maps and for Arts on December 15, documents from the British brings together over four Museum in London, centuries of visual history, Bibliotheque Nationale

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 3 New Delhi, Monday, December 12, 2011 10 my city htcity de France, France, Victoria works in the exhibition dates of the east face of the Red Fort at some point in the future. and Albert Museum, London, back 1630s, there’s also an which was painted in 1774 by “The exhibition is supported royal houses of Rajasthan, image of emperor Shahjahan a Faizabad draughtsman, and by the Delhi Government private collections and other as he enters Shahjahanabad some images from the albums and it has works that anyone museums around the world. when it was declared the of drawings done by Sita Ram would be proud to display, so “There are 114 images in the Capital in 1648. One of the for Lord Hastings in 1814- let’s see what happens,” he exhibition and most are really most interesting pieces is a 20 1815. At the moment, the says. rare works which have never metre long panorama of Old exhibition is on till December been in India before,” adds Delhi, which was painted in 24, but Kapoor is hopeful that Kapoor. One of the oldest 1840. There’s also an image it may travel to other locations

(Left) Watercolour of emperor Shahjahan made in 1650 from the British 0XVHXP/RQGRQ $ERYH $SDLQWLQJRIRQHRIWKH¿UVW%ULWLVKLPSHULDOGXUEDUV held in the city, at amphitheatre north of Shahjahanabad. From the Red Fort Museum in Delhi Continue the celebration with more cultural events taking place in the city Red Fort to Daastan-e-dilli A solo exhibition by artist Vikram Kalra titled ‘Red Fort This cultural exposition will commemorate the centenary to Raisina Hill-The making of New Delhi’, displays black celebrations of the city being the national capital with an and white sketches depicting the transfer of power from exhibition titled “Timeless Delhi’ and a dance recital by the dusty lanes and bylanes of Shahjahanabad to Raisina Shovana Narayan and other muscial events. The exhibition hill. Sketches of important buildings which existed during will showcase the evolution of the Capital from historic the Mughal period and the British period from 1800 to around 1,200 BC to a vibrant 21st century 1911, will also be displayed. “It’s a tribute to the city of my metropolis through works by painters of the British East birth, h has been the seat of power for our nation for ages,” says Kalra. The India Company. Opening on December 14 at Indian Council for Cultural exhibition is on till December 15 at Foyer, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road. Relations, Azad Bhavan Gallery, IP Estate.

Celebrating 100 Years of Delhi HT Delhi 100 Food Festival This group comprising artists Alka Raghuvanshi, Aruna A delectable dish at ?100 seens like a treat possible Vasudev, Bikash Poddar, Kana Lomror, Ruchi Singhal and only in the good ol’ days. To resurrect the glorious past Tejinder Kanda, will evoke nostalgic memories about the and celebrate 10t years of Delhi, Hindustan Time: has cultural heritage of the city. On display will be a collection organised Delhi 100 Food Festival till December 31, where of 15 Intaglio prints of the beautiful historical heritage sites the city’s celebrated cuisines wll be served at ? `100 in Delhi, ‘Virasat’ by Dattaraya Apte and 21 pen and ink each. The paticipating restaurants include 50 restaurants drawings on by Vikram Kalra. On till December of the ciy that have created a special dish each, either in 23 at The Claridges, Surajkund, Shooting Range Road, . maircourse or starter or dessert. For the entire list of resaurants, log on to: www.hindustantimes/delhi100fodfestival.com.

R.G.Gupta 4 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 hindustantimes 07 As the Capital turns 100 today, over the next three days HT brings you the best of the New Delhi 100 series that new delhi 100 ORRNHGDWWKHGH¿QLQJPRPHQWVLQWKHOLIHRIWKHFLW\ CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL FIRST OF A 3-PART SERIES: 1911-1931 Photos: GETTY IMAGES 100 years of GLORY

FLASHBACK Exactly 100 years ago - Dec 12, 1911 - King George V had announced the shifting of the Capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi Sidhartha Roy and Manoj Sharma special for another reason. [email protected] It was here that King NEW DELHI: In the winter George V announced the shifting of the Capital of of 1911, Delhi was just DURBAR PROCESSION another dot on the political India from Calcutta to map of British India, a Delhi, a decision known The 5-mile-long royal procession before the Durbar touched Red Fort, Jama modest provincial town only to the top echelons Masjid and before reaching . King George V was and small commercial of the British regime till supposed to ride a bedecked elephant but he refused and rode a horse. Delhiites then. missed the slightly short George V in his marshal uniform. The King later com- centre still recovering. plained of a ‘chilly reception’ from the scars of imperial As the Durbar ended, retribution after the 1857 the long task of building an uprising. imperial capital began. The lakh lakh yrs cr lakh On December 12,1911 government machinery, 3 9 13.07 2.3 Vistors attended Pound Sterling Time20 taken to Rupees spent to Population of the city hosted the Delhi however, shifted to the new the Delhi Durbar was spent on build New Delhi build new imperial Delhi in the 1920s Durbar - the biggest Capital by March 1912. organising the Capital tamasha of the A temporary capital with Durbar — near Burari. Though modest buildings came up Calcutta was the capital of at Civil Lines, including stone was laid by George V. (), Secretariat British India then, Delhi a circuit house, council Lutyens found the site swampy and Council House (Parliament had hosted two Durbars FKDPEHUDQGRI¿FHRIWKH DQG SURQH WR ÀRRGLQJ DSDUW House) — at one end and the All- before, in 1877 and 1902 Commander-in-Chief. IURPEHLQJWRRµÀDWDQGERULQJ¶ India War Memorial (India Gate) ,W ZDV KRZHYHU WKH ¿UVW Edwin Landseer He roamed around Delhi’s at the other end of the central time that the royal couple, Lutyens, known for FRXQWU\VLGHDQG¿QDOLVHGWKHDUHD vista. King Emperor George designing country houses near Raisina Hills. Its undulating On February 10,1931, Viceroy V and Queen Mary, was in England, was entrusted surface meant the buildings would of India Lord Irwin inaugurated present at the coronation with the job of planning the be built at a height, making them New Delhi at 11 am. The decision celebration. new city. Along with his imposing. The area was largely to shift the Capital of India A city of tents, with a old friend Herbert Baker uninhabited except for villages changed the course of Delhi’s railway network of its own, and a team of architects, such as Malcha. history. But in the two decades had come up over an area Lutyens set about the task After the proclamation of it took to build the Capital, the of 25 square miles in the RI¿QDOLVLQJDVLWHIRUWKH Delhi as the new capital, it fate of itself had north west part of Delhi, new capital. took 20 years of planning and changed. By 1931, a transition of to be called Kingsway The new capital was construction for New Delhi to power was imminent and within Camp later. Apart from supposed to come up at come up. The axis of the city was 16 years, Newr Delhi was going the presence of the royal the site where the Durbar formed around the three grand to become the seat of power of an couple, the Durbar was was held and a foundation buildings — Government House independent India.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 5 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 hindustantimes 07 As the Capital turns 100 today, over the next three days HT brings you the best of the New Delhi 100 series that new delhi 100 ORRNHGDWWKHGH¿QLQJPRPHQWVLQWKHOLIHRIWKHFLW\ CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL FIRST OF A 3-PART SERIES: 1911-1931

THE ROYAL COUPLE

King Emperor George V and Queen Mary observe a show of pageantry from the Red Fort ramparts. In the foreground are decked-up young Indian Princes, who were called ‘Pages’. Soon after the Durbar ended, the King, an avid hunter and stamp collector, rushed to the Nepal border on a tiger hunting expedition while the Queen visited Taj Mahal.

QUICK RECAP

R.G.Gupta 6 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 08 metro special hindustantimes MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 29,000 Workers were employed to new delhi 100 build Government House CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL TIMELINE 1911 1911-1931 BEGINNING: George V and Queen Mary arrive in Delhi on Dec 7 and A look at the the Delhi Durbar is held on December 12, where George V announces VLJQL¿FDQWHYHQWV shifting of the Capital from Calcutta to Delhi and developments FOUNDATION: On December 15, the foundation station for the new that shaped the Capital is laid at the site of the Durbar, now known as Kingsway Camp. from 1911 to 1931 Edwin Lutyens: A railway line was laid for the project. chief architect

1912 ALERT: A failed assassination attempt on THE HUNT FOR A Viceroy Lord Hardinge prompts the government SUITABLE SITE to heighten security in Delhi and increase manpower of the police. All fruit trees in Chandni New Delhi architect Edwin Lutyens Chowk are also cut down, looked for a suitable site for the new PLANNER: Edwin Lutyens arrives to plan Imperial Capital atop an elephant. the new city, soon to be joined by his old friend The rocky and thickly vegetated area Herbert Baker. near Raisina Hills made it difficult to TAKEOVER: The Imperial government takes use a motor vehicle. Lutyens hated over the Delhi Tehsil and area from the riding the elephant, and said this to Punjab Government. his wife in letters that spoke of how tiring mounting the elephant was, CIRCUIT HOUSE:The Circuit House becomes along with sketches of how he did it. the temporary Viceregal lodge, which would later house the ’s Vice Chancellor. SECRETARIAT: A secretariat building is constructed to accommodate the central government. FOUNDATION STONE IS LAID The foundation stone for a new Capital was laid on December 15, 1911, at Kingsway camp, , where New Delhi was expected to come up. But Photos courtesy: NEW DELHI: MAKING OF A CAPITAL, ROLI BOOKS an expert committee comprising architects such as Edwin Hillocks around Raisina Hills Photo: INDIAN RAILWAYS Lutyens decided otherwise. They found the site swampy and vulnerable to floods. The RASHTRAPATI stones were later placed in the BHAWAN secretariat buildings. The Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan), designed by Edwin Lutyens, was built to house the Viceroy. The most impressive feature was its dome. It was Lutyens’ most cherished project. About 29,000 workers toiled for eight years at any given point of time. 4.5 million bricks and 7,500 tonnes of cement was used. The cost: `1.4 crore.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 7 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 hindustantimes metro special 09 1290sq miles is the area that was acquired new delhi 100 for the ‘Delhi enclave’ CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL

1914 1918 1922 Photo: INDIAN RAILWAYS 1924 SETBACK: FAST TRACK: LEARNING MEDIA Britain enters Work on New CENTRES: MOMENT: WKH¿UVW:RUOG Delhi resumes University The War and work on as Lutyens of Delhi is Hindustan the construction puts his plans established with Times is of New Delhi is on ground. three colleges, St. launched in stopped due to The Viceroy’s House (now Stephens’, Hindu Delhi fund crunch. Rashtrapati Bhavan). and Ramjas. A party at the old Viceregal Lodge.

Photo: INDIAN RAILWAYS

Fairy queen, the world’s oldest steam locomotive, in the mid 1920s.

1931 FINALLY: New Delhi is inaugurated by Lord Irwin, who unveils the four dominion columns at the Central Secretariat. INAUGURATION OF A CAPITAL Twenty years after it was founded, CAPITAL IDENTITY Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India Gate is the iconic structure that India, formally inaugurated New everyone identifies with New Delhi. The Delhi on February 10,1931. To India War Memorial (as it was originally mark the event, the Viceroy called) is dedicated to Indian soldiers who inaugurated the four dominion died in WW1. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, columns with a 31-gun salute. The the foundation stone of the memorial was celebrations lasted two weeks with laid on February 10,1921, by the then the Viceroy hosting garden parties Duke of Connaught, and inaugurated in and polo matches. About 5,000 1931 by then Viceroy Lord Irwin. guests attended the event.

HEART OF THE CITY A central business district was part of the original plan of British Imperia Capital. The British wanted a new Capital, which could serve as shopping, HQWHUWDLQPHQWDQG¿QH dining hubThe construc- tion of Connaught Place designed by Robert Tor Russell - was started in 1929. The inspiration came from The Royal Crescen in the city of Bath in England.

R.G.Gupta 8 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF INDIA CAPITAL CENTURY NEW DELHI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 14 DELHI DURBAR | From uncertainty over dates 10 DAYS to red tape and conspiracy theories, many variables IN DELHI threatened to derail George V’s Coronation Durbar almost to the last weeks Dec 7 | Royal couple arrive at Salimgarh Station inside Red Fort; greeted with 101- gun salute. Leave for Imperial Camp in a procession Stunning durbar Getty Images

ALL THE KING’S MEN: The royal almost didn’t happen couple with their Indian ADCs Abhilash Gaur | TIMES NEWS NETWORK Getty Images n , a show Ititled ‘The Durbar in ’ was running to packed houses at the New MEMBERS OF THE INDIAN York Theatre. The New York NOBILITY PAY HOMAGE THE KING Times of February 25 report- AND QUEEN AT THE DURBAR HGWKDWWKH¿UVWZHHN¶VDWWHQ- Dec 8-11 | King meets dance was “even beyond the ,QGLDQUR\DOVOD\V¿UVWVWRQH expectation of the manage- of memorial to father, King ment”. More than the novel Edward VII; watches polo colour cinematography, what and football gripped audiences was the Dec 12 | King and queen substance of the footage. leave for Durbar in an open The Coronation Durbar of landau drawn by four horses. 1911 was a stunning spectacle. DARSHAN AT RED FORT: A “sea of upturned faces”, “great procession of After the ceremonies, he But it was held in an atmo- colour”, a sight “seen nowhere else in the world” is how The Times of India reported announces transfer of capital sphere of itrigue, with London December 13’s Jharokha Darshan event at the Badshahi Mela a day later from Calcutta to Delhi almost expecting an assas- Sandeep Katari sination attempt on the king. on as such over the wires. $29-39. Reservations could not So, when a rumour went out Meanwhile, the British ma- be made for a block of less than on December 15, three days chinery showed a lassitude com- 20 days, and two-thirds of the after the Durbar, that the king parable to our Commonwealth money had to be paid in advance had been killed, it spread like Games preparations. NYT re- before August 1. ZLOG¿UHIURP$PHULFDWR$XV- ported from London on January Then, news came in August ³7KH,QGLD2I¿FHKHUH that the Durbar may be called THE DELHI PROCLAMATION has not begun to make any prep- off as “the King himself has DEALT A BODY BLOW TO arations for the event, important now suggested the abandonment KING GEORGE V THE CALCUTTA PROPERTY DVLWLV$KLJKO\SODFHGRI¿FLDO of the ceremony, in view of the Dec 13 | Garden party MARKET AND ALSO said, ‘The coronation at home prevailing drought and famine, in Red Fort, followed by PRECIPITATED A RECORD FRPHV¿UVWDQGXQWLOZHKDYHJRW and the terrible ravages of the jharokha darshan when the the arrangements for that over, plague”. That did not happen, royals ‘reveal’ themselves FALL IN GOVERNMENT we cannot hope to...give much but by October there was talk before the people BILLS. IN JUST TWO attention to a function yet a year Dec 14 | Review of troops; DAYS, THEIR PRICE FELL distant’.” 8 ANNAS AND 3 ANNAS queen decorated with Order Yet, such was the public of Star of India RESPECTIVELY enthusiasm to witness the Dur- Dec 15 | Royal couple tralia. Only later, it emerged bar that rates for a night’s stay in Delhi went through the roof. OD\¿UVWWZRVWRQHVRIQHZ that a telegram to a newspaper capital RI¿FHHQTXLULQJDERXWWKHYH- 7KHRI¿FLDOFRPPLWWHH 2&OLNH racity of the rumoured assassi- CWG’s organizing committee) Dec 16 | King and queen nation was taken for news by offered tents at $10-22 per day depart for Nepal and Agra respectively from Salimgarh the telegraph staff, and passed while rooms in buildings cost

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 9 THE TIMES OF INDIA CAPITAL CENTURY NEW DELHI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 14 of the royal couple not attend- let the king mount one. For the Farm,Windsor” to be “milked There were other losses ing the Durbar in view of the Empire’s propaganda machin- every morning and afternoon as well. On December 5, a security threat. Speculation ery, noth-ing could be worse by a dairyman from that farm. PDJQL¿FHQW SDYLOLRQ RQ VLO- also started about whether the than sending the king amidst In case (he) is taken ill, a ser- ver poles, built for the king’s queen should take the his Indian subjects without the geant of Marines, who is a reception, burnt down. And jewels beyond British shores. advantage of a lofty elephant. skilled dairyman, will take his during the rehearsal for the There was no precedent for it, It would destroy whatever ef- place.” king’s entry, a large store of even though many agreed the fect they hoped to conjure. But While the royals had an ¿UHZRUNV EHVLGH WKH

Abhilash Gaur | TNN offences were compounded at ing like the Rs 37 a litre that ing sightseeing or attending 5V7KH¿QHVIRURWKHURI- you pay today. Milk from the the games did not cost much. emember the days fences, such as speeding, were military dairy specially estab- Ekkas were the cheapest and when phone calls 5VIRUWKH¿UVWLQVWDQFHDQG lished for the Durbar cost 2 lowest class of personal trans- R were made with an Rs 100 thereafter. annas and 6 paise per pound port and cost Re 1 per hour. eye on the watch? The third The speed limit? Just 12 (454 grams), approximately If even that was too much, minute used to be the cue to 40 paise per litre. Cream cost you could travel ordinary class wind up a local call. A century CARRIAGE Re 1 per pound while fresh in the broad gauge trains for ago, visitors to the Coronation CHARGES table butter could be bought 4 annas per trip. Return trips Durbar of George V did much for Rs 1.25 per pound, which in the Durbar Railways’upper the same thing while making (Fixed for Nov 15-Dec 24, 1911) is the Rs 147. class were also relatively af- SKRQHFDOOVIURPSRVWRI¿FHV 1st Class These prices are all the fordable Rs 4. However, trips The only difference then was `5/hr or more remarkable because LQ ¿UVWFODVV KRUVH FDUULDJHV that a three minute call cost 4 `40/10 hrs WKH\ZHUH¿[HGIRUDFHOHEUD- were fairly expensive — Rs 5 annas (25 paise) against Rs tion in a makeshift tent city If per hour or Rs 40 for a day. 1.2 now. 2nd class you’ve ever bought a burger At the polo grounds, Of course, 4 annas was a `4/hr or and cola in a stadium, you tickets to the Durbar polo, big deal in those days wh en `30/10 hrs will appreciate this: refresh- hockey and football tourna- an (imperial) gallon of petrol 3rd class (palki) ment coupons for the Durbar ments were afforably priced. cost a rupee and 6 annas, or `3/hr or were sold in a booklet worth While entry to the ordinary just over 30 paise a litre. That `20/10 hrs Rs 5, and refunds on unused enclosures was free up to the was the government’s con- 3rd class coupons were given till De- VHPL¿QDOV  DQQDV ZDV WKH tract rate with Burma Oil Co (tumtum & tonga) cember 21— a week after all FKDUJH IRU ¿QDOV ,Q WKH HOLWH for the entire duration of the `1.5/hr cultural and sporting activi- Enclosure A, a membership Durbar. ties had ceased. Who gives a ticket entitling the holder to While petrol was cheap, 4th class (ekka) refund nowadays? watch every sport and match drivers had to be careful as `1/hr Priced at Re 1, the admis- cost Rs 30 for men, and Rs15 the police were strict and the sion ticket to the archaeo- for women. It came with the penalties steep. miles per hour (19 kmph). logical exhibition in Red Fort added perk of three free tea  )RU WKH ¿UVW LQVWDQFH RI Fresh whole milk that was would seem prohibitive, but tickets. reckless driving, you could be sold by weight was a lit-tle the show was meant only for [email protected] ¿QHG5VDQGVXEVHTXHQW more expensive, but noth- the elite. Other than that, go-

R.G.Gupta 10 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF INDIA CAPITAL CENTURY NEW DELHI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 14 Royal gifts: Phones, trains and electricity

Photos: Alkazi collection of Photography Arrangements were also made to supply potable water to the entire FDPSSRSXODWLRQ$¿OWHULQJSODQWZLWK

FULLY CHARGED: 10,000 electric poles were set to light up a 100-mile length of the city’s roads

LIGHTER MOMENTS: The last of Delhi’s ‘light’ railways - built on the 2’6” narrow a capacity of 5 million gallons a day was gauge - disappeared in the 1970s. But at the time of the Durbar, they were an installed solely for the use of the Durbar important part of the transport infrastructure, with space for 230 persons each camps. Laid end to end, the mains mea- sured 51 miles while the branch lines ineteen-eleven was the year that the Durbar Railway — but even the old added up to another 50 miles. got Delhi back in the race with M broad gauge and 2’6” narrow gauge lines To cater to the multitude of Dur- bar visitors, a modern dairy with a Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. were upgraded. The old Delhi-Ambala- N daily capacity of 25,000 pounds of milk The arrival of George V and his Durbar Kalka line, for instance, was doubled (roughly 11,300 litres) was established gave the languishing Mughal capital its from Sabzi Mandi station to Wazirpur on the Najafgarh Canal Road under the junction, where it linked with the new ¿UVW VKRW DW PRGHUQLW\ 6R  LV QRW supervision of the Military Farms de- just the centenary of Delhi as capital of Durbar lines. Likewise, the old Southern partment. It had facilities for separating India but also marks 100 years of tele- Punjab Railway line was doubled from milk, pasteurizing, steam sterilizing and phony in the city. Brewery Cabin to Shakurpur. A new cold storage. The dairy’s herd of 2,000  'HOKL¶V ¿UVW SKRQH VHUYLFH VWDUWHG terminal station — Hamilton Road—was milch cattle was tended by 400 men, in- with the Central Telephone Exchange in also built to decongest the other main cluding 60 Europeans. WKH &RURQDWLRQ 'XUEDU WHOHJUDSK RI¿FH stations. Trains ran at 15-minute intervals For other supplies, a Central Mar- Common people could make calls from on both broad gauge and narrow gauge ket was established on the Mall, near the DOOSRVWRI¿FHVEDUULQJWKHWKUHHDW:D]L- lines but while the bigger trains carried QHZSRZHUKRXVH/LNHWKHSRVWRI¿FHV rabad, the Mall and Prince’s Road. Talk- 1100 passengers, the ‘light’ trains had a of that era, this market, too, opened early LQJ RI SRVW RI¿FHV WKH\ FHUWDLQO\ ZHUH capacity of only 230. despite the freezing cold weather. Provi- more businesslike 100 years ago. Most Augmentation of electricity supply sions were sold from 5.30am to 9pm. of them worked 10 hours a day (8am to was another Durbar milestone. Until The main building stocked wines and 6pm) but stamps were available for 13 before the Durbar, the city was powered spirits, tobacco and medicines, and also hours (7am to 8pm) and telegrams could by a lone 2MW diesel generator installed had space for tailors and saddlers. The be sent from 7am to 9pm (14 hours). at Lahori Gate. But the installed power building next door sold food products, Telephones, though, were only one capacity more than doubled when a coal- mainly for a European palate—bread, of the many improvements the city expe- ¿UHGVWHDPWXUELQHEHFDPHRSHUDWLRQDODW cakes, biscuits, jams and jellies, besides rienced in the run-up to the Coro-nation the Central Power House on Alipur Road. ÀRXU ULFH DQG JUDLQV

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 11 THE TIMES OF INDIA CAPITAL CENTURY NEW DELHI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 14 sewerage. Three segregation Masjid and Rajpur Village that by veterinary inspectors for only a few months ago had hospitals were setup to treat treated other serious diseases. contagious diseases. reported just 255 medical infectious diseases besides The animals arriving in the It was quite a professionals in the Census of the two civil hospitals at Jama city were also monitored transformation for a city that 1911. 10 days, 1111 booms

Abhilash Gaur | TNN and queen had started from royals arrived at the Durbar stones were laid, the day Red Fort to unveil a tablet amphitheatre; again after the arrived for the royal couple’s he 10 days of George for the memorial of George royal proclamation was read, departure. As George V and V’s stay in Delhi were V’s father, the late Edward DQG¿QDOO\ZKHQWKHNLQJDQG Mary reached Red Fort, guns Tthe noisiest in half 1 VII. Hardly had ears stopped queen left the ground at the on the Ridge opened up in a a century After the siege in ringing when another barrage close of ceremonies. 34-33-34 salute interspersed 1857 when fort and houses started at 3.30pm to announce On December 14, the king with two feux de joie. And alike shook to the boom of that the tablet had been reviewed troops near Badli ki as the king’s train chugged cannon, the city had become unveiled. Serai, and the guns opened up out of Sal-imgarh Bastion, conditioned to a regulated The next three days were at intervals of three seconds the last imperial salute of 101 FDOP%XWWKH¿UVWHYHUUR\DO free of grand ceremonies and as he approached the review JXQV ZDV ¿UHG DQQRXQFLQJ visit in 1911 exposed it to the cannons were rested. But ground at 10am. Evening the return of Lord Quiet to the the imperial salute — 101 December 12 was Durbar brought the 34-33-34 variation city. FDQQRQV ¿UHG LQ VXFFHVVLRQ day and the city heard the with feux de joie. — repeatedly. imperial salute thrice. First After a quiet Friday when  7KHRQO\FDQQRQ¿UH'HOKL around 12 noon as the WKH QHZ FDSLWDO¶V ¿UVW WZR hears now is the presidential salute of 21 guns on But during the royal visit the imperial salute was ¿UHGWLPHVDWRWDORI booms. The aural barrage started at 10am on December 7, as the royal train from Bombay chugged in with George V and Mary. Guns on Red )RUW¶V UDP SDUWV ¿UHG LQ D sequence of 34-33-34 with troops lining the road from WKH IRUW WR WKH 5LGJH ¿OOLQJ the gaps with feux de joie or UXQQLQJ ¿UH IURP ULÀHV7KLV was a variation on the stock imperial salute that was heard as the royals started for the Ridge in a procession. This time, the guns boomed from the Ridge. Next afternoon, another IMPERIAL SALUTE: Outings of King George V and Queen Mary, such as this state 101 booms starting at 2.55pm procession through Red Fort, were greeted with a salute of 101 cannons announced that the king

R.G.Gupta 12 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF INDIA NEW DELHI | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011 TIMES CITY 5 ROYAL NEGLECT | Delhi got six years to conserve Coronation Park but when the centenary came by, it had nothing to show on the ground Century scored as city drops catch

n a day when Delhi completed 100 years Oas capital of mod- ern India, the ground where this historic decision was an- nounced — Coronation Park in north Delhi — looked its old shambolic self. Termed by many as the ‘junkyard of his- WRU\¶IRULWVFROOHFWLRQRI¿YH imperial idols on pedestals, the park was to be conserved to a plan conceived more than six years ago. However, it will not be ready for visitors for at least six to eight more months. It was in 2005-06 that THE PITS: At the Coronation Park, works ranging from drainage to paving are the concept of pending but the authorities claim it will be ready in eight months. (Below) The conservation of marble statue of George V Coronation Park certain sections and statues. Only landscaping had to invite a second tender ZDV ¿UVW FRQFHLYHG felt that work- in May After that we could “At that time, we out- ing at Cornation Park CAPITAL CENTURY not work on the landscaping lined that as we have up to would be seen as bowing to for three months during the ¿YH\HDUVEHIRUH1HZ'HOKL¶V the former Imperial powers. work is going on and conser- monsoon,” said a senior DDA 100th birthday, the Corona- It was months before we were vation of statues will start in a RI¿FLDO³7KHIDFWLVRQHFDQ¶W tion Park can be developed able to convince people that day or two,” said a source. ignore the contribution of also as a cultural centre for celebrations at Coronation DDA had earlier said the Coronation Park to Delhi’s north Delhi. The park had im- Park would be a celebration inter-pretation centre would history This is where deci- PHQVH KLVWRULFDO VLJQL¿FDQFH of Delhi’s history,” said of- be ready by next March sions like the building of and we saw huge potential, ¿FLDOV'HOKL7RXULVPVWDUWHG EXW RI¿FLDOV QRZ VD\ LW New Delhi were made and despite the garbage dumps, warming up to the idea and will take up to a year. this is where the shape defaced statues and neglected asked the NGO INTACH to Apart from this, other of the whole nation grounds. Tourists still went to prepare a concept proposal. planned projects like the changed. The park will the place solely because they Talks shifted to Delhi De- VIP parking and water be a major attraction for wanted to see where the Dur- velopment Authority (DDA) body will not betaken visitors during the cen- bar was held and where New when ownership of the 49 XS DW DOO ''$ RI¿- tenary year and. even if Delhi was proclaimed capital acre park was shifted to them cials blamed problems delayed, the conserva- of British India,” said a se- in 2007. in tendering and the tion of the park should QLRU,17$&+RI¿FLDO$WWKDW “The facelift plans were extended monsoon be completed at the point of time, the park was divided into three major for the delay “The earliest,” said a top under Central Public Works components — landscaping, ¿UVW WHQGHU IRU RI¿FLDORI$UFKDHR- Depart-ment (CPWD). “There interpretation centre and con- landscaping did logical Survey of were some hiccups initially as servation of coronation pillar not mature so we India. Three Durba-

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 13 THE TIMES OF INDIA NEW DELHI | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011 TIMES CITY 5 rs ZHUHKHOGDWSDUN²WKH¿UVW WDQWGHFODUDWLRQV7KH¿UVWZDV that India would now be ruled King George V, adorning as in 1887, the second in 1903, that the Capital of British India directly by the King and Queen it does a lofty pedestal. The DQG WKH ¿QDO RQH LQ  ,Q would be shifted from Calcut- of England, thereby ending the statue was moved here in the December, 1911, King George ta to Delhi, and the other was rule of the East India Compa- mid-1960s from a site oppo- V and Queen Mary themselves the annulment of the Partition ny Also, Coronation Park has site India Gate in the centre of came here to make two impor- of Bengal. They also declared the largest and tallest statue of New Delhi. A milestone missed in December haze onday marked 100 ground turning the corner. years of George V’s But it’s going to be a long FIRST VISIT LAST DURBAR MCoronation Durbar, turn, an-other six months at and nature faithfully mirrored the least. the event’s vague imprint on The Empire, though, was Delhi’s memory. Through the able to move heaven—its noon haze, the obelisk com- steel frame a.k.a. bureaucracy memorating the location of — and earth faster. Arrange- the royal pavilion, where the ments for the grand assembly king-emperor sat as his coro- were completed in a year. nation proclamation was read What was Coronation Park out, was barely visible from like on December 12,1911? A Ring Road. Even stepping bird from above would have inside Coronation Park—49 seen a vast smiley. Not static acres of pits, puddles and yellow but a moving mass of treacherous paving—brought scarlet and khaki—the are- no rush of emotion. na was packed with 20,000 The city didn’t warm to the troops. The ‘head’ of the as- occasion, the government was sembly was an amphitheatre manifestly cold to it, but some with space for over 50.000 open-minded citizens decided commoners. Think of the domed pavil- WHAT WAS THE ion where George V and CORONATION PARK LIKE ON Queen Mary sat (today’s obe- DECEMBER 12,1911? lisk) as the nose. The com- The commoners’ stands had space for more than 50,000 but only A BIRD FROM ABOVE WOULD mon stands were drawn in a 18,000 benches; 6,000 places were reserved for children HAVE SEEN A VAST SMILEY. NOT semicircle of 240-yard radius Coronation Park’s obelisk marks the site of the royal pavilion. The to the north. Some 12,000 2 proclamation of coronation was read out here STATIC YELLOW BUT A MOVING invitees sat in another semi- MASS OF SCARLET AND KHAKI- The king received homage from native princes in this shamiana; also circular theatre (the smile) of made the Delhi announcement from it THE ARENA WAS PACKED WITH 120-yard radius to the south. 3 20,000 TROOPS Between the royal pavil- Invited guests sat in this amphitheatre, 120-yards away from the royal ion and the VIP stands an- 4pavilion. There was space for 12,000 to celebrate the centenary other large tent, simply called solemnised in Westminster to their heads. Theirs was a with a hot meal for the park shamiana, where the royals Abbey on June 22. labourers and anyone else arrived and received homage. ÀDZOHVVVKRZEXWWKHURXJK As he sat under the homage of the laity after who cared to join, like Se- It was here, not in the pavil- shamiana, maharajas the Durbar’s close was attle-based writer Brian Paul ion, that the king-emperor an- rivalled each other more touching. After Bach. nounced the decision to return in a display of fealty the imperial suite left, Bach — unusual for a the capital to Delhi. Some bowed, others the people “rushed tourist but not a history buff And what was the Durbar laid swords at his feet down by thousands — has been to the Park sev- all about? Pageantry, show while the chiefs of from the mound... eral times, starting 20 years of might? Yes, but the ruse Sikkim and Bhutan ap- and prostrating them- ago when it was an “unkempt was George V’s wish to make proached touching mud selves, pressed their ground where people prac- it known “in person to all foreheads against the tised driving”. He said he felt his loving subjects in India” EMPEROR: George V was the marble steps.” Delhi’s happiest this time seeing the that his coronation had been only British monarch to attend a Durbar in Delhi Durbar age was over.

R.G.Gupta 14 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 08 delhi 100 hindustantimes TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011 The once imperial Capital of India has turned 100. HT brings you the best of the New Delhi 100 series that looked new delhi 100 DWWKHGH¿QLQJPRPHQWVLQWKHOLIHRIWKHFLW\ CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL SECOND OF A 3-PART SERIES: 1932-1969 TIMELINE 1932 1934 1936 1939 1932-1969 CINEMATIC LODGED IN THE FOR ART’S CITY’S NEW BEGINNING: HEART: Nirula’s Hotel, SAKE: MIGRANTS: A look at the Regal Cinema is initially called Hotel Dhoomimal, World War 2 breaks VLJQL¿FDQWHYHQWV opened. India, opens in opens 'HOKL¶V¿UVW out and New Delhi and developments in CP. private art VHHVDKXJHLQÀX[RI 1933: The central gallery, is that shaped the business district of NEW INN-INGS: The British and American Imperial hotel, built opened by Capital city from Connaught Place A Lutyens’ bungalow. PHOTO COURTESY: soldiers. The front page of HT on Queensway, is a Walled 1932 to 1969 is completed. ROLI BOOKS, NEW DELHI, MAKING OF A CAPITAL on August 15,1947. completed City family. 1940 BOOKED: Ahmed Ali’s ‘Twilight in Delhi’ is published: it laments the disappearing old Delhi culture. 1945 VICTORY PARADE: CP sees an Allied victory parade with tanks at the end of World War 2. HALL OF FAME: Odeon cinema opens 1947 AUG 15: Delhiites throng Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament in celebration. PARTITION:'HOKLVHHVDODUJHLQÀX[RIUHIXJHHV which changes the Capital forever.

1948 KILLED IN COLD BLOOD: On January 30, is shot at Birla Mandir

BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE CITY It was only by 1939 that New Delhi could fully emerge as a city. It now comprises Connaught place, Parliament House, the Viceroy House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan), the Central Secretariat, the Imperial Hotel, along with elite residential colonies. Meanwhile, Delhi’s population rose by nearly 40% in a decade post 1931. GETTY IMAGES Hyderabad House QUICK RECAP

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 15 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 08 delhi 100 hindustantimes TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011 Witness a Capital Change UNVEILED The new Capital remained a ghost town for almost a decade after its inauguration in 1931. But the Second World War, India’s independence and Partition changed the contours of New Delhi.

Sidhartha Roy and Manoj Sharma New Delhi’s own Piccadilly [email protected] Circus, began only in 1929, NEW DELHI: After 20 years of when all the other major construc-tion work, New Del- buildings were already taking hi was unveiled to the world shape. The complex started in 1931. But the spanking gaining popularity during CENTRAL POINT OF new Capital, with its grand mid-1980s. gees boosted trade and once THE NEW CAPITAL buildings and wide vistas, The contours of New Del- settled, the new residents of remained a ghost town for al- hi also changed with the ad- By the 1940s, the reputation of Delhi stamped their cul-tural Connaught Place had spread far and most a decade. vent of the Second World War dominance on the city. wide. It had high-end shops that could The older part of the city, in 1939. New industries came The post-Independence give those in European high streets on the other hand, was burst- up to cater to the needs of war era of 1950s also saw a slew a run for their money. These shops, ing at the seams. Earlier and with it came migrant la- of construction activity. The owned by suave English-speaking plans to build the new Capi- bourers. Hutments came up public buildings and mass owners, sold high quality imported tal envis¬aged a harmony near the Secretariat for war goods and were popular with the housing projects that came up royalty, top businessmen and civil between it and the existing WLPH RI¿FHV ,Q PLGV in this period gave shape to servants, PHOTO COURTESY: NDTA city. This idea, however, was housing for government em- the New Delhi we know to- junked with the British deter- ployees also came up in the day. Post-Independence, the city minedly cutting off the min- Lodhi Colony area. Apart from the challenge also witnessed a cultural re- gling of the two except for Independence and Parti- of creating infrastructure for naissance thanks to Prime buffer areas like Paharganj tion acted as a catalyst for New Delhi’s growing needs, Minister Pandit Nehru, who and Daryaganj. What was the Delhi’s drastic change. Nearly there was also a need to create took a keen interest in pro- city before 1911, had become ¿YHODNKUHIXJHHVSRXUHGLQWR indigenous architecture that moting Indian classical arts ‘walled city’ by 1931. the city, which was not pre- would express the progres- and theatre. The 1950s and Though the new city had pared for the population ex- sive ethos of the time. Utili- ¶V LQDUJXDEO\ WKH GH¿Q- everything chalked out to take plosion. The refugees moved tarian modernism became the ing decades of New Delhi care of the needs of an impe- into every inch of available template for almost all gov- as the cultural Capital of the rial government, it lacked space and took up any work ernment buildings built at the country, saw the building of life. This is where Connaught WKH\FRXOG¿QG'HVSLWHRGGV time and the acute fund crunch several top class auditoriums Place came into the picture. the Punjabi spirit was indom- also resulted in the austere fa- and art galleries such as Sapru Work on Connaught Place, itable. The enterprising refu- cade of these structures. House and Rabindra Bhavan.

CITY’S FIRST GRAND HOTEL

The Imperial was built in the style of downtown hotels in America. It was then the tallest building in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Lord Willingdon in 1936 at a grand ball in the presence of 15,00 guests. The hotel got its name from Lady Willingdon, who took personal interest in choosing the interiors of the hotel. PHOTO COURTESY: FAMOUS HOTELS.ORG

R.G.Gupta 16 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 10 delhi 100 hindustantimes WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 The once imperial Capital of India has turned 100. HT brings you the best of the New Delhi 100 series that looked new delhi 100 DWWKHGH¿QLQJPRPHQWVLQWKHOLIHRIWKHFLW\ CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL CONCLUDING PART: 1970-2011

TIMELINE 1970 1974 1977 1980 1970-2011 HALL OF FAME: FOR ART’S THROWN OUT: EXHIBIT: Chanakya Cinema SAKE: Delhi Coca Cola is Pragati We take a look at opens. Urban Arts thrown out of Maidan is built WKHVLJQL¿FDQWHYHQWV 1971: Delhi Transport Commission is Delhi and the DEADLY and developments Undertaking taken set up native Campa PURSUITS: that shaped the over by Centre and 1976: is Cola starts Sanjay Gandhi renamed Delhi established by production. dies in a crash in Capital city from AChanakya Cinema, Which was later demolished. CP’s outer circle 1878: Palika Transport Sanjeev Verma / HT PHOTO Sanjay Gandhi Chanakyapuri 1970 to 2011 Corporation Bazaar opens 100 things esentially 1982 FIRST BIG OPPORTUNITY: DELHI New Delhi comes of age Asian Games are held in Delhi FOUR-WHEELED WONDER: 5 FAVOURITE HANGOUTS 7KH¿UVW0DUXWLKLWVFLW\URDGV India Gate lawns Free entry and 1fav place for papajis, mamajis 1984 Handicrafts, cuisines of DELHI’S JOY RIDE: Appu 2India under one roof *KDUFLW\¶V¿UVWDPXVHPHQWSDUN Food courts Easy on the pocket, opens 3offers great variety Connaught Place Central for everyone 1986 4 in Delhi MONUMENTAL: Local pan shops Great addas for brainstorming is inaugurated 5or even for ‘bird watching’ 5 FAVOURITE DRINKS Banta Lemon-soda I 1drink to escape heat Khamba One whiskey 2bottle, hic! Shikanji Sweet-salty Palika Bazar, HT PHOTO. 3drink is a fav CHANGING CONTOURS OF CP Juice-No other metropolitan has In the 70s, there was a scramble among businesses to acquire a space in Connaught Place. But CP alone could not meet the rising demand for 4juice-culture like Delhi does FRPPHUFLDOVSDFH6RPDQ\/XW\HQV¶EXQJDORZVRQ%DUDNKDPED5RDGDQG&XU]RQ5RDGJDYHZD\WRWKHFLW\¶V¿UVWKLJKULVHVVXFKDV.DLODVK Machine ka thanda paani `1 per glass, Building, Himalaya House, Kanchenjunga Building and others. By the late ‘70s, downtown New Delhi had acquired a skyline. N THYAGARAJAN/HT. 5working classes’ favourite water cooler 5 THINGS TO SHOW OFF 5 FAVOURITE MARKET 5 BEST PLACES FOR FAKES 5 DELHI SHORT FORMS Pin Code A south Ideal Palika CDs, fake pen CP Short and sweet, 1address is chic 1shopping Place 1drives, watches... 1everyone knows it Cars The bigger, the Kamla Nagar K. Nags Janpath Fake banded SN Sarojini Nagar’s hip 2better 2fav for stidents 2clothes 2name Reading Kalka in Metro Makes you look Overcrowded but cheap option Gaffar Market Cell phones found even if Auto May not be 3intellectual for Indian wear they area not launched in India automatic Lable of branded clothes Never mind even if 3 3 3 4they stick out of the collar of your shirt Sarojini Nagar &ROOHJHJLUOVÀRFNKHUHIRU Lajpat Rai Market Extremely popular with KLPD We don’t use unparliamentary Where your kids study study No less than 4dirt cheap, export surplus clothes 4electronics goods enthusiasts 4language in this paper 5a Modern School or DPS RK Puram would Chandni Chowk Shaddi shopping, electron- Sarojini Nagar Again, a great option for Medical For the uninitialted and the elite who do sir ji. 5ics, books-you name it, Chandni Chowk has it. 5inexpensive clothes 5do not travel by buses, it stands for AIIMS 5 WAYS TO TRAVEL 5 FAVOURITE LANDMARKS 5 FAVOURITE PASTIMES 5 THINGS TO IDENTIFY WITH Metro Favourite Mother dairy Every area has Eating peanuts Winters, Jagrans They keep you 1mode of transport 1one, never goes unnoticed 1peanuts go hand in hand 1awake all night DTC Swanky ride, Mandir Not just a place to Window shopping No Free passes We all love 2crowd a turn-off 2worship 2gender bias, this 2free entries Autos Love to hate drivers, can’t do without Metro pillars Changed the way Playing cards Everybody Hanging out of DTC bus Overcrowded 3them either 3we search for address 3loves them 3buses. No problem ji Cars/ motorcycles Faster and personal, Aggarwal sweets Old-fashioned but works Knitting sweaters Keep you warm and time Haggling with auto driver Bargaining never 4QHYHUPLQGWKHWUDI¿FVQDUOV 4¿QH 4to gossip in the sun 4hurts. Plus they don’t charge by meter anyway German seva &1*SRZHUHG¿OWK\ULGHVRXW Roundabout Classic way of describing ad- Ogling Boys do it openly but girls area bit Dropping names The Capital loves its power- 5of Delhi urban villages 5dress- next lane on right after gol chakkar 5discreet 5ful people and the advantages they come with.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 17 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 10 delhi 100 hindustantimes WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 MODERN AND HAPPENING It was only in the 1970s that the Capital settled down and acquired a character. emerged, Asian Games changed the city and then satellite towns such as and Noida took the pressure off the Capital

Sidhartha Roy and Manoj Sharma residing in the walled city till chosen in 1993. Delhi, how- multiplexes as well as grand [email protected] then, also moved into newly ever, still has a multiplicity hotels and restaurants. NEW DELHI: The Partition and developed areas like Greater RIDXWKRULWLHVDQGWKH¿JKWIRU the inllux of refugees changed Kailash I and II and Safdar- full statehood continues. the contours and demography jung Enclave. The 1980s and 90s also of New Delhi. It was during It was the ninth Asian saw the emergence of satel- DELHI’S FIRST BIG 1950s and 60s when several Games held in New Delhi lite towns like Noida and Gur- EVENT: ASIAN GAMES housing, institutional and pub- in 1982 that almost brought gaon. In the next few decades, In the 1970s, South Extension became lic buildings came up in a city the Capital into the 21st cen- these two suburbs would not one of the most happening places of the that was still grappling with tury. The landmark event only absorb the pressure on Capital. It had garment shops, bookshops the huge burden put on it. changed the city’s landscape Delhi’s infrastructure but also and restaurants which were different from those in Connaught Place in terms It was only by the 1970s and skyline. In the run-up to come into their own. While of window display and interiors, which that the Capital settled down the 16-day event, New Delhi the city kept expanding going had a modern look. Even GK-I’s M-block and south Delhi truly came saw the construction of mod- beyond its boundaries, it was market boasted of shops and restau- into its own. Areas like Hauz HUQ À\RYHUV ZLGH URDGV DQG the that integrat- rants that had a huge list of patrons. Khas, Green Park and South state-of-the-art stadiums that ed Delhi-NCR. Starting with KK CHAWLA/HT PHOTO Extension came up at this pro-pelled the city’s growth a small corridor in 2002, the time. The markets in South by a decade. The Games also Metro now has a network of Extension and Greater Kai- brought colour televisions 190 kms and growing. lash had a more modern look into Indian drawing rooms. From being rocky, barren and were patronised by the With its ever increasing piece of land in 1911, a ghost ever increasing populace of population and expanding town in the 1930s and a staid south Delhi. boundaries, the Centre decid- and sarkari city till the 1950s, Many people, who were ed to gift Delhi the status of New Delhi has today become state-hood. Delhi got its own a buzzing town with its gleam- legislative assembly and its ing Metro, glitzy malls and ¿UVW HOHFWHG JRYHUQPHQW ZDV

DELHI’S FIRST BIG EVENT: ASIAN GAMES The Ninth Asian Games, held in the Capital in 1982, were a landmark event that changed the city’s landscape and skyline. In the run-up to the 16-day event, the Capital saw the construction RI À\RYHUV ZLGH URDGV DQG VWDWHRI the-art stadiums. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, was the main venue, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. SN SINHA/HT PHOTO THE CAPITAL’S QUICK RECAP OFFICIAL RIDE Before 1971, buses run by the Delhi Transport Undertaking (DTU) formed the backbone of the city’s public transport system. But DTU, part of the MCD, did not ensure a smooth ride. So, in 1971 DTU was incorporated and rechristened Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). The Central government took over its assets and liabilities. It was taken over by the Delhi government in August 1996. VIRENDRA PRABHAKAR/HT PHOTO

R.G.Gupta 18 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 11 delhi 100 hindustantimes WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 new delhi 100 CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL

1990 1993 1997 1961 CASTE SYSTEM: Mandal Com- STATEHOOD THEATRICS: &RXQWU\¶V¿UVW IN MOTION: mission protests rock Delhi. Delhi gets a multiplex PVR Anupam opens. ,QGLD¶V¿UVW 1991: Delhi Legislative Assem- legislative 1998: Construction of Delhi mm theatre, bly Act passed, followed by the assembly. Metro begins. Sheila, opens. Government of National Capital 1994: Dilli 1998: Onion prices hit `60 a 1962: Territory of Delhi Act. Haat is kilogram, widely held as the Delhi’s gets its started. reason for the collapse of the Appu Ghar HT PHOTO 1992: Redlines operate in Delhi An overcrowded DTC bus. ¿UVWPDVWHUSODQ IRUWKH¿UVWWLPH BJP govt. Sheila Dikshit-led govt comes to power. 1964 100 things esentially CALLING CARD: Number of telephone lines in Delhi crosses DELHI 50,000 mark 5 DELHI MONUMENTS 1966 Qutub Minar Enduring sign of 1everything Delhi DEVELOPMENT: Delhi Metro- Red Fort lgnites a patriotic politan Council is established. 2fervour MARKET: Super Bazaar, the India Gate Mark of honour ¿UVWVXSHUPDUNHWLQWKHFRXQWU\ opens near Connaught Place. 3DQGVDFUL¿FH Jantar Mantar Hotspot for METRO-POLITAN CITY 1969 4 demonstration Lotus Temple An architectural marvel, it Delhi Metro, which started its journey in 2002, not just changed the way Delhiites commute, but also became NEWEST ENTRANT: Nirula’s 5UHSUHVHQWVDFRQÀXHQFHRIDOOUHOLJLRQV a symbol of the city’s march into the future. Earlier this the city also got the sleeker Airport Express Metro, SLSHV RXW WKH ¿UVW VRIWLH IURP DQ which connects the swanky Terminal 3 of IGI Airport to the heart of the city. HT PHOTO automatic machine. 5 THINGS WE LIKE TO EAT EXPANDING CITY: Hauz Chholey bhaturey It’s Khas, Green Park and South 1everyone’s lunch Extension are developed by DLF Gol gappey The Group. 2spicier, the merrier. UNIVERSITY: Jawaharlal Nehru Chaat A riot of a University is established 3dish Butter chiken ,W¶V¿QJHUOLFNLQ¶ 4good Rajma chawal A delhite’s staple diet. 5We were born to eat 5 THINGS NO MORE THERE Phatphati And when 1they plied, they crawled. Trams Err... Were they 2there? In old Delhi. TV Tower in Pitampura, N-W Delhi. Tehzeeb The Delhiite REVV AND ZOOM 3has no manners Chor Bazaar Has now permanetly shifted Inaugural Indian F1 Grand Pix THE SMALL BIG CAR 4to palika Bazar held in Buddh International Circuit Double decker buses Have now turned in was a grand Harpal Singh and Gulshanbeer 5into plastic toys. VXFFHVV,WZDVDGH¿QLQJPRPHQW .DXURI'HOKLEHFDPHWKH¿UVWSURXG in Indian motor sport and proved RZQHUVRIWKH¿UVW0DUXWLFDU 5 THINGS DELHI NEEDS India has the ability to host a major in 1983. The couple bought the Civic sense people, this sporting event. The venue had a car for `47,500 and its keys were 1is not your spittoon. capacity of more than 1,00,000, handed to them by the then Prime Women’s safety Need and there were hardly any seats Minister Indira Gandhi. The Maruti 2we say more? empty. HT PHOTO 800 fuelled a car revolution in the Heart Feel for Delhi, country and became a symbol of 3it’s ypur home after all status for the Indian middle class in Chivalrous men No we don’t want to the 1980s. 4make fraandship with you. Culture /HW¶VEULQJEDFNWKHPHOOLÀXRXV 5Qawwali and Hindustanti Classical days back

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 19 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 11 delhi 100 hindustantimes WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 new delhi 100 CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL

CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE 395$QXSDPLQ6DNHWZDVWKH¿UVWPXOWLSOH[ of the country. It was launched in June 1997 as joint venture between Priya Exhibitors Private Limited and Village Roadshow Limited. A whole new cinema-viewing experience, it was an instant hit with Delhites and can be credited with starting a multiplex revolution in the country. HT PHOTO

5 THINGS WE CARRY Panni Give us the damn 1poly bag Metro Smart Card Car Keys 2are passe VIsiting card Preferably with 3Ashok Stambh Comb in back pocket No one likes ‘I’ve emerged 4 from a tornado’ look. Gold chain Ideally four. We carry on Bappi 5Lahiri’s legacy. 5 THINGS WE AVOID 7UDI¿FMDPV “Yaar abhi 1to bahut jaam hoga.” Going to police station 2Thaane ke chahhar laga ke lag gayi hai. Standing in a queue ‘‘ Arre? Itti lambi 3line?’’ Paying challan “tKuch le-de ke ho sakta 4hai kya?” Get caught drinking in your car “kya 5scene sir? ‘Caro-bar’ karne chalein? 5 TYPICAL DELHI HABITS Urinating On every wall, 1tree, corner Honking As often as 2using brakes Parking anywhere DELHI GETS A 3Sapce crunch, you see MORE ON THE WEB Adjust kar lo 0HWUREXVRURI¿FH FACELIFT 4anywhere..... hindustantimes.com/newdelhi100 Abusing Using the choicest of words, After seven years of planning and and the weirdest of sexual fantasies controversies, the CWG event took place 5 in October last year with a grand opening ceremony that was witnessed by millions. 5 PLACES TO EAT 5 FAVOURITE LOVE SPOTS 5 DELHI TERMS The star attraction of the spectacular Bangla sahib ka kada Buddha Jayanti park Thulla A term for anyone ceremony that mesmerized the world 1prasad With lots of ghee 1Bliss with your lover 1in Khaki. was the `50 crore helium balloon. The Pandara road Expen- Nehru Park Nice place- Abey oye Version of opening ceremony helped repair some 2sive though expansive 2in winter 2‘Your attention please’ of the damage caused by controversies Karim’s (Jama Masjid) Metro stations Not so Bhaiyyaji Girlspeak for in the 3Tall though tiny 3busy ones, mind you. 3just about anyone build-up to the Games. Prabhu ki chaat, UPSC Prepared by Kamala Nehru Ridge From one Tu jaanta nahi hai mai kaun hoon? 4God’s own cooks 4generation of DU lovers to the other. 4Enough said HT PHOTO Paranthey waali gali Everything tastes Safdarjung Tomb Has its own parking and Jugaad )URP)WLFNHWWRHYHQ¿[LQJ\RXU 5good 5WLFNHWV&RROSODFHWRµRI¿FLDOO\¶KDQJFXWDW 5OHDNLQJWDSWKHUH¶VD¿[IRUHYHU\WKLQJ

R.G.Gupta 20 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. Delhi celebrates its centenary year This year Delhi celebrates its centenary year as the capital of India.Since it came into existence the city has been the centre stage of politics, economics, sports, art & culture, etc and has grown to be a cosmopolitan metropolis.

n December 12, 1911 Britain’s King George V declared Delhi as India’s new capital, replac- Oing Calcutta (now Kolkata), at a gathering of British and Indian royalty. Hundred years have passed since and Coronation Park. In 1931 New Delhi was Union Territory of Delhi to be formally this year Delhi celebrates its centenary formally inaugurated by British India’s known as National Capital Territory of year as the capital of India. Since it came Governor-General Lord Irwin. Most of Delhi. The Act gave Delhi its own legisla- into existence the city has been the centre New Delhi’s major structures were com- tive assembly, though with limited powers stage of politics, economics, sports, art pleted, including Rashtrapati Bhavan or Known to have several historical and culture, etc and has grown to be a the Presidential Palace, the All India War mon-uments Delhi added another feather cosmopolitan metropolis. Memorial, now called India Gate and re- in its cap in 1993 when ’s Tomb However, converting Delhi into In- tail center Connaught Place. EHFDPH WKH ¿UVW PRQXPHQW LQ WKH FLW\ dia’s new imperial capital was a chal- On the eve of India’s Independence, to be declared a world heritage site by lenging task. The planning and building towards midnight of August 14, 1947, UNESCO. Delhi also boasted two other of a new Delhi in the aftermath of the 3DQGLW-DZDKDUODO1HKUXWKH¿UVW3ULPH world heritage sites: the Red Fort and the 1911 announcement, and the character Minister of India addressed the nation Qutub Minar complex. of plan-ning for Delhi after indepedence; with his famous speech Tryst with Des-  7KH¿UVWOLQHRIWKH'HOKL0HWURZDV the role of India’s rulers in the evolution tiny. Nehru hoisted the tricolour at Red inaugurated by Atal Behari Vajpayee, the of modern Delhi; and the ways in which Fort on August 15,1947 the day India then Prime Minister of India on Decem- such political masters either neglected or gained Independence. ber 24, 2002. enhanced the heritage character of the The and , The Commonwealth Games held city has been a point of debate. ¿QDOLVHGLQWKH,QGLDQ,QGHSHQGHQFH$FW To begin with, building the new city OHGWRDQLQÀX[RIPLJUDQWVWRWKHFLW\HV- in the national capital in October 2010 took some 20 years. By 1912 the archi- pecially from Sindh and Punjab regions gave the city a rapid makeover with the tects who designed New Delhi — Edwin of Pakistan. widening of roads, the construction of a Landseer Lutyens and his old friend Her- In 1956 New Delhi was given the sta- QXPEHURIÀ\RYHUVWKHRSHQLQJRIDQHZ bert Baker as his collaborator — too had tus of a Union Territory. In 1957 Delhi airport, among other improvements. been commissioned. Due to its unique Development Authority while in 1958 In spite of so many highs and lows landscape the Raisina hill became the the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was Delhi continues to attract people from preferred location for the construction of set up as the local administrative bodies. ail over the world and remains the dream the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In 1982 the city got international destination for those who want to make On December 15, 1911 King George recog-nition for hosting Asian Games. big in life. In layman’s language Delhi V and Queen Mary laid the foundation The Constitution (Sixty-ninth loves to be tagged as ‘Dilli Dilwalon stone for New Delhi at Kingsway Camp, Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Ki’.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 21 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 04 metro hindustantimes FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 new delhi 100 CENTENARY OF THE CAPITAL

7KH¿YHSDQHOLVWV IURPOHIW AGK Menon, Pavan K Varma, Sheila Dikshit, moderator Pankaj Vohra, Mark Tully and OP Jain - during the discussion at the Conclave on Thursday. SANJEEV VERMA/ HT PHOTO No full stops in Delhi: CM HT NEW DELHI 100 CONCLAVE Sheila Dikshit says that despite all the constraints, Delhi has managed to grow

NEW DELHI: According to has managed to grow. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, “Despite limited space, Delhi is one of the most com- Delhi has not gone high-rise. fortable cities to live in despite We have space on ground and its burgeoning population and we don’t feel claustropho- pressure on amenities such as bic. With active participation road, water, power and trans- of people we are one of the port. greenest cities. With 192km of “It is a mini India. People 0HWUR DQG PRGHUQ ORZ ÀRRU from all over the country come buses, Delhi is constantly and live here. Every body adapting,” she said. wants a small place here. Jo “There are no full stops. yahan aata hai woh wapas nahi You have to go on and on to jana chahta hai” said the three- meet the challenges of Delhi. time chief minister of Delhi. We have to grow,” Dikshit “It is a modern and a heritage added. “I want people to ex- city at the same time,” claim with wonder when they HT Correspondent Executive Director, HT Media Ltd, Benoy Roy- Dikshit said at the Con- see Delhi. It will happen only [email protected] chowdhury presents Sheila Dikshit a picture of her clave organised by Hindustan when we are able to put smiles younger days. RAJ K RAJ/HT PHOTO Times to celebrate 100 years on the face of everyone who of New Delhi. Dikshit also comes here,” she said. Dikshit, tional capital region NCR board is a toothless body. added that despite many chal- KRZHYHUDFFHSWHGWKDWWUDI¿F (NCR) and seamless move- We need to take decisions on lenges in wake of limited space and health are some of the big- ment of people between Delhi development quickly and de- — which is a huge limitation ger challenges the city is fac- and satellite towns, Dikshit cisively. There is a dire need to for Delhi — and the lack of its ing. said the NCR should be one give back to the city that has own natural resources, Delhi With the expansion of the na- common economic zone. “The

R.G.Gupta 22 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 04 metro hindustantimes FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 nurtured so many” she said. will be able to administer the people of Delhi will witness a Jaitley was the emcee of the With trifurcation of MCD, city better. “After municipal sea change in municipal ad- event. Dikshit said the government eletions in April next year, the ministration,” she said. Divya

Pavan K Varma OP Jain Mark Tully AGK Menon Author and India’s ambassador to Bhutan Founder of Sanskriti foundation, a cultural Author and former New Delhi Bureau Noted architect and conservation organisation Chief of BBC consultant Delhi, says Pavan K Varma, OP Jain feels that in Delhi, the 0DUN 7XOO\ KDG ¿UVW FRPH According to AGK Menon, is the only metropolitan decisions related to expansion to the city in 1965 and he a conservation expert, verti- city in the world that has of the city are not profession- says Delhi has changed a cal expansion is no answer a population several times ally made but are politically lot since then. “The tongas to Delhi’s problems. It’s a that of various European cit- motivated. The man, who has have disappeared, and there misleading idea when we ies put together - but has the been the former convener are many more bridges apart can absorb more people by most muddled administra- of the Delhi chapter of IN- from the one iron bridge that building low rises and it tive process. This, despite a TACH, said, “If Metro could used to connect north Delhi would provide more breath- democratically elected Chief happen in Delhi, it means we to the east,” he said. Tully ing space. “Delhi is not un- Minister. “It is bursting at can do a lot to make Delhi a lives in Nizamuddin where, planned. There is some area the seams even as most of its better city. See Dwarka to- KH VD\V ³7UDI¿F KDV JRWWHQ which has been planned and has become just a collection day, how well-planned it is. much worse. But what has the others came up organi- of postal addresses,” Varma So, only professional deci- not changed is the fact that cally. We can still develop said. According to Varma, the sions can help the Capital not anyone is free to practise the area which has grown on city needs to resurrect its his- political. Same goes for the their religion in any part of its own,” added Menon. He torical memory and cherish it conservation of heritage. De- the city. Yes, there is more feels that for proper develop- if it does not want to end up velopment should be woven that needs to be done but the ment and better future of the as nothing but a whole with- around heritage, not over it,” city, I believe, will survive as Capital, residents or migrants 5 Key issues out a soul. said Jain. it has all along.” have to own it. A holistic view of the city needs Yes, but it has to be planned Yes, to some extent. But we It’s a bad idea. It will kill the Is vertical the way to go to be taken. We need to ensure properly. Take Dwarka as a need to ensure that whatever breathing space. Why do we for Delhi that just one part of it - the good example of the vertical we do for develop¬ment does need high-rises when we can 1 NDMC area - does not end up growth. So we can go yertical not get in the way of the beauty absorb people by building well as its pampered core. but without killing open space. of Delhi, its history and culture. planned low-rises? If we forget the past, we can never Delhi can’t function without ur- Delhi’s heritage should be given Heritage is as important as ur- How can we ensure that plan effectively for future. This banisation but not at the cost of space to breathe freely. Their banisation. We can’t overlook it. urbanisation and heritage problem can be addressed only heritage. We have to urbanise environmental attributes need We must expand the city, but we 2go hand-in hand ? when ‘municipal apar-theid’ ends. the city around heritage, not to be preserved. A shift from the should also try to get Delhi the There are too many agencies. over it. city’s ‘car culture’ is warranted. status of a world heritage city. The need of the hour is uni- All three governments - Delhi, A beginning has already been We need to have everyone on What needs to be done to formity in administration. Delhi Haryana and UP - have to be made in the form of the Metro, ERDUG¿UVW7RGD\1RLGDIROORZV bridge the gap between goes beyond Lutyens’ Delhi. on the same page. We can’t but more needs to be done. A a different policy and Faridabad 3Delhi and NCR? Those at its peripheries need to have different policies for Noida suburban railway system needs something else. Satellite towns identify with it too. and Gurgaon and Delhi. to be encouraged. have to grow accordingly. There is a feeling tha step-motherly We all come from different states There’s been a massive expansion For that we need to link Delhi How do we inculculate a treatment is meted out to those and it takes time to adjust. The idea in Delhi’s cultural activities, in with its heritage. Today, a Delhiite sense of belonging among residing in its extremities. We need is to make people feel they are a which people can participate for relates himself to almost every- 4Delhiites? to encourage a feeling of greater part of Delhi. That can be done free, and a lot of internationalisa- thing Delhi, but heritage. We all ownership among them. through culture and heritage. tion of its culture along with India’s. are stakeholders in the Capital. Delhi is nothing but a collection If Metro could happen to delhi, Delhi is far better in terms of Nothing is unplanned. The only How do we deal with the of postal addresses. Those at we can do a lot to make it a migration than other cities. While difference is that some areas vast, unplanned component its peripheries need to be made better city. The unplanned parts we need to ensure each of its res- were planned and other came 5of Delhi’s population ? to feel as much a part of it as could be developed by providing idents is happy, the same needs up organically. We need to have possible. better amenities. to be ensured for all Indians. a better framework.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 23 HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 04 metro hindustantimes FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 Life and times in Delhi HT Correspondent unveiled by Delhi Chief Min- engage Delhiites with their Partition to its emergence as [email protected] ister Sheila Dikshit at the New shared history. a mega metropolis in the 21st NEW DELHI: New Delhi has Delhi 100 Con- The book has century — the book captures completed 100 years as the clave on Thursday. been divided into New Delhi’s story in lucid lan- Capital of India. To com-mem- The book was 10 chapters, each guage and dazzling pictures. orate this occasion, Hindustan presented to her by chapter explor- Between its covers, the book Times had launched a special Editor-in-Chief of ing the 10 decades showcases an array of bril- editorial series in January this Hindustan Times between 1911 and liant pictures, many of them year. Sanjoy Narayan. 2011. From the not published before. The pic- Moreover, HT has now The book incor- Delhi Durbar of tures have been painstakingly come out with a special cof- poratesparts of the Cover of ‘New Delhi 100: 1911, where shift- sourced from HT archives, fee table book, ‘New Delhi New Delhi 100 Centenary of the Capital’. ing of the capital government archives and even 100: Centenary of the Capi- series published in from Calcutta to private collections. tal, 1911-2011’. The book has the past one year, and more. Delhi was announced, to the Each chapter of the book been brought out in collabora- Itaims not only at chronicling rise of a new Capital from has interesting anecdotes and tion with Delhi Tourism. the history of the Capital but the rocks and rubble of Rai- a page dedicated to highlights The coffee table book was to also inform, celebrate and sina Hills; from the tremors of of the decade.

Delhi lost many people in the communal riots that followed the Partition. Many Muslim families migrated to a totally unfamiliar landscape and thousands poured in, seeking refuge.

AP PHOTO

(Right) A drawing rendering of an ‘aerial perspective of the proposal’ and Lutyens’ hexagonal plan for the new Capital. CENTER FOR SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE: MEDD COLLECTIONS

R.G.Gupta 24 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 22 WIDE ANGLE NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011 the next Anna Effect Ayodhya Film Festival Football Season The government, that is On the death anniversary The ball has started anxious to blunt ANNA RIIUHHGRP¿JKWHU rolling for a season of HAZARE’S ANTI-GRAFT ASHFAQULLAH KHAN, football at the Jawaha- CAMPAIGN, has decided DWKUHHGD\¿OPIHVWLYDO rlal Nehru International to introduce the Lokpal will begin in Stadium in Kochi. The Bill in Lok Sabha on Faizabad-Ayodhya national football league, Tuesday on Monday I-League, will kick off DAYS on Friday Cool gadget 77 Atul Sethi | TNN Lumia 800 is hitting the he headquarter of the markets this Archaeo-logical Sur- week. Result vey of India (ASI) A FUTURE of Nokia’s T — on New Delhi’s Janpath partnership with Microsoft, — is buzzing with activity the phone is The organisation, which has an attempt by the two companies to the mandate of protecting for the PAST wrest back some mojo from iPhone the country’s vast archaeo- and Android logical heritage, is preparing Sound Track to celebrate 150 years of its existence. A string of events The audio of starting December 20 have 7DPLOÀLFNµ¶ which has been planned. Prime Min- generated tre- ister Manmohan Singh will mendous hype inaugurate the celebrations with the track that’ll include international KOLAVERI Dl, crooned conferences, lectures by dis- by actor Dhanush, will be released on tinguished archaeologists and Friday at a grand function in Chennai outreach programmes. The man coordinating the celebrations, the agency’s di- rector general Gautam Sen- gupta, says he is excited at the Anindya Chattopadhyay On Tuesday, the prospect of taking the ASI to National Trust For Art and and founder of the Delhi- Prime Minister the next phase. But he’s also Cultural Heritage (INTACH) based Sanskriti Foundation. aware of the monumental “It doesn’t run like a pro- will kickstart challenges he faces (see inter- fessional organization, with the 150 year view), which are many. clear goals and accountability celebrations of the Even after a century-and- There’s little initiative to get a-half of its existence, the ASI things done, since it would Archaeological has struggled to live up to the mean more work, which no- Survey of India. premise on which it was start- body wants to do.” As the custodian ed. Instead of emerging as It’s not as if the ASI isn’t an organisation of excellence aware of its problems. It ad- of the country’s that sets world standards in mitted its shortcomings to a heritage gets set to preserving and showcasing committee set up by the PM enter a new phase, India’s rich historical past, it under the chairmanship of has functioned as yet another former Union law minister Sunday Times sarkari department, caught in Veerappa Moily The biggest tracks the bu-reaucratic sluggishness issue, it claimed, was man- challenges it faces and operating at an antiquated power, pointing out that its pace. IN SAFE HANDS? A damaged current staff strength does not “ASI’s biggest problem is structural panel at an ASl-protected site permit deployment of even a bad management,” says OP in Karnataka, depicting Ashoka with his single person on fulltime ba- two wives Jain, convener of the Indian sis at more than two-thirds of

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 25 SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 22 WIDE ANGLE NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011 its monuments. With 3,676 area. of its protected monuments monuments under its care, Historian Nayanjot Lahiri, were encroached or physi- HISTORY KEEPER this means that virtually 75% a member of the Moily com- cally occupied by squatters. ASI is the world’s biggest of its monuments are un- mittee, says the ASI’s record At Chennai’s Fort St George, state-run archaeology body guarded. In order to augment in preservation and conser- IRU LQVWDQFH²WKH ¿UVW %ULW- ‡It functions under Ministry of its manpower, the agency told vation is far from inspiring. ish settlement in India — the Culture, Government of India the committee, it will need She cites the instance of the agency has been struggling ‡It takes care of 3,676 monu- to create additional posts of Buddhist stupa site at Kan- for years to secure the fortress ments spread across 24 circles 10,000 monument attendants. ganahalli in Karnataka as a and clear traders who have set within the country Hiring this additional case in point. “The state of up shops tucked into the inner ‡116 of its monuments are manpower would mean an the conservation here makes walls. ticketed expense of a few hundred one cry This is a site where Training and staff mo- ‡It earned Rs 87.8 crore in ticket crores. Then there’s need for the sculptures of Ashoka are rale are other ma-jor issues. sales last year specialists—apart from the of the highest quality but they An archaeologist working also reach out to people more attendants—who can help in have been kept in a pathetic with the agency says there in order to showcase their work conservation. state.” aren’t enough avenues for — an area where they have But would merely getting It’s not as if the agency in-house training. Also, pro- been woefully inadequate. But in additional staff solve the is not capable of doing good motions are sporadic. “The many feel that good intentions agency’s problems? Chances work in restoration. Heri- career path within the ASI should be followed up with a are that they might simply end tage management consultant LV QRW FOHDUO\ GH¿QHG ZKLFK time-bound action plan. “Be- up as a burden on the exche- Amita Baig points out several often leads to loss of en- ing the largest government or- quer unless they are trained cases where the ASI has done thusiasm among promising ganisation doing archaeology properly and develop a love a world-class job. “One only archaeologists,’’says KN Dik- anywhere in the world, the for heritage. For instance, has to look at archival pic- shit of the Indian Archaeolog- ASI is an important part of the when Sunday Times visited tures to see the apalling state ical Society country,” says Lahiri. “What it the Rani Kamlapati Mahal in of most of our heritage, when Morale is also low at the needs is less celebration and Bhopal recently, the scant dis- the ASI came into existence. ASI’s Institute of Archaeolo- more introspection. It needs regard for the monument was They have done seminal work gy once considered a premier a route map to rejuvenate the evident even as there were in bringing these back from centre for learning the craft. legacy it seems largely to have plenty of workers and ASI the edge of extinction,” she “The quality of the faculty as abandoned.” VWDII 7KH WRS WZR ÀRRUV RI says. well as students graduating the 18th century palace was a But over the past few de- from it have gone down con- [email protected] makeshift home for the work- cades, battling its myriad siderably,” points out Jain. ers, while the rest of what problems seems to have taken Sengupta says he is aware With reports from Sandhya was earlier a seven-storeyed its toll. According to the ASI’s the agency needs to invest in Soman in Chennai, and Jamal structure was a bath and wash own submission last year, 249 its manpower urgently and Ayub in Bhopal ‘Encroachment of monuments is a law & order issue’ 7KH ¿UVW SURIHVVLRQDO DUFKDHRORJLVW WR KHDG heritage structures are protected, but ultimate- of data yet. There are thousands ASI after almost 17 years of bureaucrats at its ly encroachment is a law and order issue. The of monuments spread across the country. Col- helm, Gau tarn Sengupta, who took charge as support of law enforcement agencies - police, lating them is a huge task. DG in 2010, talks about the roadmap ahead district administration etc, is required. :KDWLV\RXUIRFXVFXUUHQWO\" with Atul Sethi 7KH$6, LV SHUFHLYHG DV EDQJ WRR VORZ ([- My immediate priority is to increase the profes- /DFNRIVXI¿FLHQWPDQSRZHULVRIWHQFLWHGE\ FDYDWLRQ UHSRUWV OLNH WKH +DUDSSDQ VLWH RI sional content of the organisation. In this pro- WKH$6,DVWKHUHDVRQLW¶VQRWDEOHWRIXQFWLRQ 'KRODYLUDKDYHQRWEHHQSXEOLVKHG7KHUHLV cess. I’m trving to reach WRLWVRSWLPXP+RZLVLWEHLQJDGGUHVVHG" DOVRQRXSGDWHRQZKHQDGDWDEDVHRI,QGLD¶V out to the archaeologi- We are in the process of augmenting that. The PRQXPHQWVZOEHPDGHDYDLODEOHEYWKH1D- cal world outside the government has sanctioned senior-level posi- WLRQDO 0LVVLRQ WKDW ZDV VHW XS IRU WKLV SXU- ASI.We’re excavat- tions as well as posts of monument attendants. pose. ing sites jointly with But we also want to promote people from within I am aware of the backlog. But much of it will the Deccan College the organisation so that there is vertical mobil- be cleared during the 150-year celebrations. in Pune as well as tying ity at all levels. $QXPEHURIPRQXPHQWVKDYH Many excavation reports are being released up with the IITs. In the EHHQHQFURDFKHG7KHUHDUHDOOHJDWLRQVWKDW during this time. We’ve also revived our presti- process, I want to WKH$6,VLPSO\WXUQVDELQGH\HWRLW That’s gious journal Ancient India’ after 40 years. As create more op- not true. Encroachment is a very serious mat- for the National database of monuments, it is portunities for ter for us. The ASI is greatly concerned that DQRQJRLQJH[HUFLVH7KHUHLVDRGDWH¿[HGIRU people within its completion, since nobody knows the range the ASI.

R.G.Gupta 26 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011 5HSDLUQRG+RSHÀRDWVIRU houses in heritage zone Richi Verma | TNN

New Delhi: People living close to cen- trally protected monuments in the city can heave a sigh a relief as the newly formed National Monuments Authority (NMA) has begun issuing no-objection FHUWL¿FDWHVRQSHQGLQJDSSOLFDWLRQV7KH applications for minor repairs have been taken up on priority and culture ministry sources said about a dozen NOCs have been issued. It has been a long wait for people who live within 300m of the protected monu- ments after the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, was passed in March last year. According to it, permissions for any kind of construc- tions — minor or maor — within 300m of a monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) umbrella can come only from the pro¬posed NMA. The law had stripped ASI of any such au-thority leaving residents of such houses with no END OF WAIT: NMA has issued a dozen NOCs since it was set up in Nov other option but to wait for setting up of urgently need to make repairs in resi- of NMA had given rise to cases of un- NMA. dential houses falling in a prohibited or authorized constructions. ASI sources “Two part-time and one-full time regulated zone were also growing. There said on an average, they received one members were appointed were instances where some people had complaint of unauthorized construc- last month and along with the member- rented accommodations elsewhere till tions daily “In a growing urban city like secretary the functioning of NMA started they got an NOC from NMA. Delhi, people living in areas like South in November. A number of applications Such cases are being taken up on prior- Ex, , Panchsheel have been are awaiting approval with NMA from ity” said a source. affected as they live close to a protected all over the country Public projects apart, ASI stopped issuing NOCs from Jan- PRQXPHQW´VDLGDQRI¿FLDO the number of applications where people uary 23,2010, and the delay in setting up

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 27 SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 20 DEEP FOCUS NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011

Deities and Akbar’s ideas remain When India is said to be a secular I do not expect India of my dreams to religious forces relevant...they state,it does not mean develop one religion that WHEN THE provide suggest the that we as a people is to be wholly Hindu or providentially need for reject the relevance wholly Christian or wholly STATE dependable scrutiny of of religion to life.It Mussalman, but I want it to MEETS supports: so the fear of means that the State by wholly tolerant, with its also do religious multiculturalism’ protects and respects religions working side by side RELIGION‘ functionaries all faiths... with one another ANTHONY GIDDENS AMARTYA SEN DR S RADHAKRISHNAN M K GANDHI Whatever introduces genuine perspective into piecemeal and shifting episodes of existence... any activity pursued on behalf of an ideal Who’s Afraid of Swami & end against obstacles, and in spite of threats of personal loss, because of conviction of its enduring Friends? value is religion in quality REACH OUT MANTRA | As the political atmosphere vitiates and the Congress JAWAHARLAL NEHRU is accused of arrogance and exclusion, multiculturalism could bring the party Nehru is prepared to be “a humble camp-follower of religion” in FORVHUWRDODUJHDQGLQÀXHQWLDOVHFWLRQRIRSLQLRQ this sence Illustration: Neelabh Srijana Mitra Das | TNN FLASHBACK ook around you. The Nehru and secularism world is shaking with Initially, Jawaharlal Nehru seemed to believe that secularism meant indiffer- indignation. Across ence to religion. Soon, he realized this Lnations,classes, re- model might not work for India and ligions and ethnic groups are GH¿QHGVHFXODULVPDVHTXDOSURWHFWLRQ quivering with anger over be- to all religions by the state. The ing denied a, fair share in the state would provide equal respect to all faiths. The key thing was being pie or—sometimes more griev- even-handed ous—not being adequately heal’d. Novel, surprising meth- The Somnath episode ods of protest are emerging An early challenge to secular- ism involved reconstruction of each day From monks immo- Gujarat’s Somnath temple lating themselves to students Ź Sardar Patel, as dy PM, occupying streets, sects spew- pledged Centre would ing virtual hatred to govern- rebuild the temple ments banning billowy burqas, ŹThe Cabinet, pre- sided over by Nehru, ERPEV GHOLYHUHG OLNH ÀRZHUV decided to rebuild it at to embassies or dropping out of govt cost friendly skies — these are vol- Ź Gandhi told Patel money DWLOHWLPHV¿OOHGZLWKYLROHQFH should be collected from the people for this but offering promise. The last ŹPresident Rajendra Prasad emanates from a philosophy installed the deity on May 11,1951 that looks inwards and reaches Khilafat & Congress outward. This is ‘multicultur- ŹIn 1920, Congress under Gandhi alism’, a political embrace of joined the Khilafat stir, a pan-ls- opposites, a strategic celebra- lamic agitation to protect the Ottoman tion of difference. Empire Sensing the dangers of oth- ŹMuslim leaders and Gandhi joined hands er paths, political parties in the ŹThey launched a Non-cooperation West have begun following pre- movement - a nationwide campaign of cisely this. But India’s largest mass, peaceful civil disobedience and oldest political formation, ŹThis sealed a Hindu-Muslim bond the Congress, remains resistant to its multicultural moment — side-stepping great advan-

R.G.Gupta 28 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 20 DEEP FOCUS NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011 FLASHBACK tages. A Parsi tale elucidates: Take one scenario. The re- Congress leaders kept com- :KHQ WKH\ ¿UVW DUULYHG IURP cent move to inject FDI into munications with spir-itual Gandhi and Anandamayi Ma Iran in the eighth century, their domestic retailing lies in tat- leaders. Indira Gandhi admired ŹAnandamayi Ma met Gandhi at his ship sailing into the western ters, the BJP having voiced Swami Vivekananda and in- Sevagram Ashram port of Sanjan ruled by king the supposed fears of small teracted with Anandmayi Ma. ŹGandhi addressed her as Mataji Jadhav Rana. the Parsis were traders, fuelled by its certainty Congressmen Arjun Singh and while Anandamayi Ma addressed him as Pitaji not welcomed. Kept anchored, of being Indian mercantil- Giani Zail Singh visited UP’s ŹGandhi took her in his arms like a their vessel nudged about by ism’s sole representative. Now Deoraha Baba who blessed the child and she buried her face in his 6DQMDQ¶VZDYHV-DGKDY¿QDOO\ imagine this: If the Congress Giani by tapping the latter’s chest sent the Parsis a glass of milk made friends with swamis and head with his foot, outraging Among her devotees later were full to the brim. The message friends — substantial follow- Ź OUR SECULARISM Kamala Nehru and Indira Gandhi was clear: There was no space ings of professionals, students, Rajiv-Longowal Accord for them. But the Parsis’ spiri- peasants, artists, swathes of Ź Secularism in India did not ŹRajiv Gandhi began talks with tual leader returned the glass in- dustry what Machiavelli emerge, unlike in Europe, as a Akalis believing it would solve the result of a struggle against — having added sugar. His termed ‘ecclesiastical princi- authority of church Punjab problem palities’ — it would not have ŹIn 1985, Rajivsigned the Punjab SPIRITUAL LEADERS TODAY ARE ŹIn Europe, it carried within itself Accord with Sant Longowal, a reli- MARKEDLY INCLUSIVE, ADVOCATING found itself so isolated when an atheistic trend JLRXV¿JXUHDQG$NDOL'DOFKLHI NORMAL LIVES AND OFTEN trying to explain FDI. Instead, sharing cordiality towards reli- Ź It implied an indifference ŹThe government concernd many LEADING THE THE BATTLE AGAINST towards religion, if not antagonism Akali demands ISSUES SUCH AS CORRUPTION gious leaders and to it ŹBan on Sikh Students’ Federation AND INJUSTICE laities — both lifted voters — it ŹIn India, religion has always ŹIt was decide that polls would be been at the centre-stage of social held message: We won’t disturb might have life ŹThe day Longowal announced your population, but we will found its po- Akalis would join the polls, he was sweeten your lives. sition easier. ŹSecularism here conceived as a assassinated philosophy giving equal respect to This communication holds Winning ? all religions The Babri Masjid dispute true today of the relationship friends, ŹCongress was to be all-inclusive Ź Sankaracharya of the Kanchi the Congress shares with those it Math was involed in the dispute it considers its opposites — ŹThree of its presidents came ŹPV Narasimha Rao drafted spiritual groups and their lead- from minority communities: Badruddin Tyebji from Mumbai; him as a negotiator with Muslim ers. If it wishes to sweeten its groups W C Bonnerjea, a Christian, and own political life when this is Dadabhai Nawroji, a Parsi The Deoraha Baba getting noticeably sour — and ŹThe Ulema, who were struggling ŹHoly man who lived in Deoria on a possibly gain an edge over against British rule, readily tree settled on the bank of the Saryu rivals snapping at its heels supported it ŹHe blessed devotees with his feet — the Congress could avail ZRXOG LQÀXHQFH SHRSOH 1RW ŹThis secularism, a multi-religious ŹHe never ate and said he had of multiculturalism and reach turn them towards an eager concept, was adopted by Congress emerged from water out to those at distant poles. opposition. as an all-inclusive philosophy ŹPresident Rajendra Prasad was The party is no stranger to this  2WKHUEHQH¿WVFRXOGDFFUXH a devotee practice, having once been the Hearing views from those it many watching the thus-con- ŹRajiv Gandhi too was blessed ‘banyan tree’ of Indian poli- considers different would in- secrated President while oth- by him tics, giving shade to all and troduce fresh air to the group ers engaged with spiritual phi- ŹArjun Singh was also a devotee sundry’ listening, absorbing, that went from banyan tree to losophers like Rajneesh and respecting. From those broad- AC room, guarded by lackeys, J Krishnamurthy. During the er-minded days to now, when entered by children of politi- early 1990s, P V Narasimha the Congress incorrectly posi- cal privilege. Such derisively- Rao’s regime approached the tions mul-ticulturalism against titled ‘baba-log’ could have Sankaracharya of Kanchi to secularism, it is evident the rich encounters with another act as a mediator in the Babri party has forgotten its past. kind of baba-log, the latter Masjid dispute. Considering Instead of growing more ex- growing from a fertile earth of how despite the mosque’s de- pansive with age, it has grown troubles, tragedies, hopes and struction and the ensuing riots, narrower, failing to gauge the dreams millions of ordinary religious leaders in Ayodhya country’s changing moods. people experience. Which po- stayed cordial enough to share This is harming the Congress litical party would not want the transport to court hearings, most. the advantage of hearing such GHSOR\LQJ D IDPLOLDU ¿JXUH representatives speak? like the Sankaracharya could ‡ WINNING FRIENDS, INFLUENCING PEOPLE Early after Independence, have been one key to this con-

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 29 SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 20 DEEP FOCUS NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011

GREAT MINDS tention. Dhamma-Ashoka DISASTROUS COMMUNITY POLITICS IT took the bloody battle of Kalinga ‡ with over 100,000 deaths to turn Except it was done so poorly Ashoka By the late 1980s, the Con- into the gress approached spiritual extraor- leaders with half the heart it dinary once employed. A possible emperor reason was Indira Gandhi’s history disastrous dalliances with knows community politics, deploy- him as. ing populist Hindutva in Pun- The feared third century autocrat jab and Kashmir through the turned Buddhist, adopted non- violence as state policy, limiting 1980s, miscalculations caus- WHEN WORLDS MET:1.'DODL/DPDDQG1HKUXDIWHUKHÀHG7LEHW hunting and promoting vegetarian- ing crisis among majority and ism. Ashoka built stupas, sprinkled minority groups, Sikh and ‡ SPIRITUALISM GOES SECULAR lose themselves in the jungles of inscriptions emphasising kindness Muslim sections pushed to the In this light, Rahul Gandhi’s asceticism or close ranks within across his huge empire, addressed state’s margins as noted by As- recent moves touring the Vin- society, today’s spiritual leaders citizens as a father and incorporated ghar Ali Engineer. When the dyachal temple, the Ravidas encourage regular living and bat- pluralism. He came to be known as Congress mixed broad spiri- temple, the Golden Temple tling exploitation and corruption. Vhamma-Ashoka’, the follower of tualism with narrow commu- are steps in the right direction. They teach physical and mental dharma - and one of India’s greatest nity calculations, the results “History begins,” writes E H exercises towards better lives, rulers. were catastrophic. After his Carr, “when men think of time lessons open to all —regardless mother’s assassination, Rajiv in terms not of natural process- of community This shift in spiri- Mahabali Akbar Gandhi’s discomfort with reli- HVEXWVSHFL¿FHYHQWVWKH\FDQ WXDO ¿JXUHV²WUDQVFHQGLQJ WLJKW THE 16th century Mughal was one gion was evident. Yet, he tried LQÀXHQFH´5DKXO PD\ KDYH XQ- boundaries through a supple lan- of India’s most powerful - and most — using Sant Harchand Singh GHUVWRRG WKH GDQJHUV RI ÀLUWLQJ guage of yoga, philanthropy and liberal Longowal for the Rajiv-Lon- with religion. However, another meditation — makes them ideal - rulers. gowal Accord in 1985. sources for a mass-based party He ad- development makes his choices opted the But Rajiv’s other attempts VLPSOHU²VSLULWXDO¿JXUHVKDYH By ignoring them, Congress is pluralistic ZHUHOHVVFRQ¿GHQW7RSODFDWH grown secular today Where once playing into opponents’ hands— 6X¿ Muslims, he allowed the ban- swamis, pirs and sants advocat- and overlooking an incredible notion of ning of Salman Rushdie’s Sa- ed renunciation or confronta- intellectual history. Sulah-kul tanic Verses and the scrapping tion, encouraging followers to or‘peace to all’ as state policy, rolled of the legal order entitling back the jizya tax imposed on Hindus divorced Muslim women to and gave generous grants of land to maintenance. In 1986, trying Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh to compete with shrill Hindu JURXSV'HHSO\LQÀXHQFHGE\-DLQ sections, he threw open the monks, he gave up eating meat while shocking conventional theologians by disputed Ayodhya site, permit- developing Din-e-Elahi, a new school ting a ‘shilanyas’ there — a of religious thought which combined terrible miscalculation. As the best of diverse faiths. the Hindu right organized the transport to Ayodhya of ‘sa- cred” bricks from villages and towns, the Congress sensed doom, erroneously withdraw- ing from sadhus and sants WHEN WORLDS MET :1. 'DODL/DPDDQG1HKUXDIWHUKH¿HG7LEHW| 2. Indira ÀRFNLQJWR5DPMDQPDEKRRPL and Nehru with thinker - President Radhakrishnan | 3. Indira Gandhi on The BJP moved in for the kill, pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi appropriating charismatic re- OLJLRXV ¿JXUHKHDGV DQG WKHLU ‡ A RICH AND FLEXIBLE PAST Maulana Axad, observed faith ‘ecclesiastical principalities’ The Congress’ origins do stand deeply, bringing religion onto a — adding ammunition to a de- moored in a secularism that ab- shaky public platform trying to molition drive, the fall-out of horred bringing religion into unify a young nation was con- which we’re dealing with 19 public space. Although many sidered divisive. Most Congress years later. leaders, like G K Gokhale and leaders came from a Western-

R.G.Gupta 30 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA 20 DEEP FOCUS NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18, 2011 HGXFDWHG XUEDQH FODVV LQÀX- spiritual strength with politi- notion Indian thinkers devel- As Amartva Sen writes, “Ak- enced by the West’s moment cal leadership. Invoking Neh- oped ages ago. In the 1950s, bar’s ideas remain relevant... of modernity when church ru’s name to brush religious Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan they suggest the need for and state separated. While the groups off the Congress’ wrote about Indian secular- scrutiny of the fear of multi- Congress’ great leader. Ma- VKHUZDQLUHÀHFWVDPLVWDNHQ ism not meaning a rejection culturalism.” hatma Gandhi, stepped over understanding of how he saw of spiritual concerns. Instead, It is time the Congress this separation of spiritualism his civilization. There was a it meant respecting all faiths, takes heart and begins its own and statecraft, he remained context to Nehru’s secular- ensuring religion isn’t ex- multicultural moment. One the only one doing so. Mo- hamed Ali Jinnah scarred the ism. Today, that context has ploited for political gain, it’s possible step is assuring In- party using religious identity changed. Writing of post- practised in freedom, its ideal dia’s spiritual —Deobandis to for political gain, unleashing modern Western societies, goal being ‘sarva-mukti’. Digambarites, Arain to Agnes violence. $ KRUUL¿HG 1HKUX Anthony Giddens says, “Dei- Coming from the President of — that it values their beliefs enforced a clear separation in ties and religious forces pro- India, these views hardly re- and respects their philoso- Indepent India. vide providentially depend- ÀHFWDQDWLRQ²RUD&RQJUHVV phers. Three potential gains But secular Nehru was also able supports: so do religious party that looks contemptuous are the Congress saving itself DÀH[LEOHVWDWHVPDQZHOFRP- functionaries.” It’s no coin- of spiritualism and its repre- from shrinking into a smaller ing the Dalai Iama in 1959. cidence Giddens was lead sentatives. Radhakrishnan’s shell. Replacing narrow com- the latter seeking refuge from philosopher powering Tony philosophy echoed Emperor munity politics with wider Chinese attacks after walk- Blair’s regime which re-in- Akbar’s 16th century imag- humanitarian discourse, the ing over the Himalayas for vented British multicultur- ining of Indian secularism, party could defy communal- 14 days. As the Dalai Lama alism and opened Downing FRPSRVHGRIWKH¿QHVWSULQFL- LVP¶VJKRVWV$QG¿QDOO\HQ- began internationalizing the Street to Diwali and Eid. ples of each faith, their tenets gaging with people of faith, it Tibetan cause. Nehru did not Such celebration, all heart, understood through engage- might just take away one of its demand that lie limit blending no bias, was a nation-building ments with spiritual leaders. opponent’s main advantages.

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H ZDV ,QGLD¶V ¿UVW PDVV starving himself - whether over in 1930, derived directly from the peace, invocations made to a political leader with the the plight of hungry mill work- ZDQGHULQJV RI 6X¿V WKH WULEXOD- universal divine known as Ishwar Hability to bring peasants, ers in Ahmedabad in 1918, for tions of Hindu ascetics, but re- and Allah together to bestow se- housewives, students and busi- an end to caste-based electoral sulted in tangible political gains renity upon all. It is of tragic irony nessmen into the streets to join UXOHVLQRUIRUKRUUL¿FFRP- like salt taxes being lifted or the that Gandhi was assassinated by the struggle for freedom. He was munal violence to stop in 1947 - quest for ‘purna swaraj’ declared. a religious fanatic at pre-x cisely also one of history’s most intuitive always yielded coherent political As he traversed on foot over vast such a meeting - which makes politicians with the ability to divine dividends. It wasn’t just the con- and tough terrain, thousands WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH RI VXFK D JDWK- how much of the daily could mix sequences of joined the frail being, in his garb ering even more powerful, even with the divine for the results to resembling a renouncing Bud- more fragile. be extraordinary. THOSE WHO SAY dhist monk. It was no coincidence It was precisely this ability RELIGION HAS that Gandhi was known by mil- of his, reaching out to the good lions across India as ‘Gandhi nestled in every soul using a NOTHING TO DO WITH baba’, a familiar saint-like language of spiritualism which POLITICS DO NOT KNOW ¿JXUH VWULYLQJ IRU IUHHGRP transcended religion and nation, “ liberating a nation and its WHAT RELIGION IS that made Gandhi so attractive Mahatma Gandhi soul. around the world. Perhaps this MEETINGS | Gandhi’s is exactly why, although we have Gandhi starving himself though morning and twilight seen numerous leaders with - it was also the tool that was im- meetings were more great charisma follow him, India mediately familiar to persons from than an exchange of political still has only one Mahatma all its religions as diverse as Hinduism, ideas - they were a venue for own. Islam, Jainism and Christianity. prayer involving multiple faiths. Here’s a look at some of the The idea of refusing to partake of 2QH RI WKH ¿UVW FOHDU most powerful strategies M K or live in a world that could not be vestiges of India’s Gandhi adopted, which involved bettered was as ancient as it was multicultural moment, a blend of spiritualism with state- revolutionary. And Gandhi knew the meetings began craft - or perhaps, a refusal to this. ZLWK ¿HU\ GLVFXVVLRQV separate the two. MARCHES | Gandhi’s long on freedom and ended FASTING | Gandhi’s strategy of marches, most famously to Dandi with quiet prayers for

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 31 THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI 4 TIMES CITY MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011 FILLING THE RED FORT’S BLANKS What was Red Fort like in the days of the Mughals? No living person knows. The British OHYHOOHGPRVWRILWVEXLOGLQJVDQGDZLGHVZDWKHRIWKHFLW\RXWVLGHZLWKLQ¿YH\HDURIWKH 8SULVLQJ%XWDODUJHSDQRUDPDSDLQWHGLQDQGSXEOLVKHGQRZSURYLGHVWKHDQVZHUV

Photos reproduced from Delhi 360o/Roli Books ed Fort’s vaunted right. Razed palaces, arcades Diwan-i-Khas and and cloisters had left behind its famous boast the long, empty brackets of R— if there be space to his left. paradise on earth, this is it... The Red Fort George V — are a short walk away from saw was like a poem with Salimgarh Bastion, where most of its lines missing. It’s King George V arrived for the same with us, who wrap his Durbar 100 years ago. But up a visit in under an hour to the State Procession that fol- spend four hours shopping in lowed his entry hurried the Chandni Chowk. Returning to king away from the hall, out the fort’s heyday is not pos- of Delhi Gate and into the sible, but a new book offers a city. glimpse into the palace of the

BIRD’S EYE VIEW: A sentry stands in the north cupola of Red Fort’s lahore Gate; Khan painted from the south cupola. is in the background

Riding a horse under the win- last Mughal and the surround- ter sun, George V had time ing city that Zauq and Ghalib merely to mark the fort’s loved and lived in. sparse grandeur and discrete JP Losty’s Delhi 360o pavilions, and wonder why (Roli Books) reveals the Red it had been called the noblest Fort and Shahjahanabad of palace in the world for so long. the Mughal dynasty’s dying What he probably didn’t know years through artist Mazhar was that most of the ‘Exalted Ali Khan’s panorama, “A Pic- Palace’ travellers raved about ture of the Imperial City of for two centuries had been Shahjahanabad Drawn from swept away. Gone was the the Lahore Gate of the Ex- record. walls. Most of the palaces and sparkling canal that divided alted Fort”. Acquired by the The Mutiny happened in buildings within the fort were the very road he took out of British Library at a country 1857 and by 1863 the British also demolished in the name the fort. Houses of the salatin auction in 1981, the painting had cleared a large swathe of of security. So, Khan’s pan- (royal descendants) had made is signed November 25, 1846, WKHFLW\WKDWOD\ZLWKLQ¿ULQJ orama captured the fort and way for the new lawns to his and is an important historical range (450 yards) of the fort the city in their swan song,

R.G.Gupta 32 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI 4 TIMES CITY MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011 and in massive detail. to Shahjahan’s aesthetic, but Measuring 66.5cm high a living, thriving space none- and 490.8cm wide, the pan- theless. Outside, the city is orama is the equivalent of more orderly built and leafy a 455-megapixel shot when than what you see today. Trees printed at 300 dots-per-inch ring it from the north all the photo quality. The only way way to Fatehpuri Masjid on to produce such a photo-real the west. There are trees even historical record in the 1840s on Chandni Chowk’s median. was by faithfully recording 2I WUDI¿F WKHUH LV OLWWOH DQG every line of street, roof and squalor none, but the last may pillar with brush and paint. be the artist’s disinclination to From his observation deck sully his canvas. under one of Lahore Gate’s  $W¿UVWJODQFHQRWKLQJEXW chhatris (cupolas), Khan the fort’s august gates is recog- VZHSWKLVJD]H¿UVWQRUWK WR- nisable. There is so much be- THE RED FORT GEPRGE wards the ticket counters) and tween them that no living per- V SAW WAS LIKE A POEM then clockwise, till he had son has seen. For instance, the WITH MOST OF ITS LINES traced a unique 360o view. The very intricate decorations of MISSING. IT’S THE SAME roughly 5-metre water colour Chhatta Bazaar’s walls. They WITH US, WHO WRAP SDQRUDPDZDVSDLQWHGRQ¿YH are now lost under layers of UP A VISIT IN UNDER sheets and pasted together as white paint. Immediately to AN HOUR. DELHI 360o a scroll longer than an aver- the right is a spread of houses OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO age apartment bedroom. for the salatin. Moving on, the THE PALACE OF THE More than its age, the pan- Naqqarkhana has a large, en- LAST MUGHAL AND THE orama is important for what closed court with three-arched SURROUNDING CITY THAT ALL LOST: A Wide & well-orderd it shows. The fort is fully gateways to the north and the ZAUQ AND GHALIB LOVED Chandni Chowk, Red Fort’s built up. It is no longer true south. In fact, gates, arcades vegetable beds, and houses of the salatin and Chhatta chowk’s decoration are all lost and cloisters regularly frame, link and also curtain the fort’s different quarters. Another surprise is the white Diwani- Aam beyond Naqqarkhana. 7KH KDOO¶V SHDUO\ SODVWHU ¿Q- ish was stripped off early in the last century, exposing its red sandstone. The painting also shows Shahjahanabad in relation to the older relics. Monuments such as Kotla Firoz Shah, Humayun’s Tomb, , and the farthest, Qutab Minar, are duly marked out. Studying Khan’s panora- ma will leave you a little wist- ful, for the lost splendours of Red Fort, the city’s easy pace, its leafy environs, the Yamu- na’s wide expanse — and the horizon. Once upon a time, earth and sky met all around Delhi.

MOST OF THE FORTS BUILDINGS WERE RAZED BY 1863 [email protected]

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 33 THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI TIMES CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2012 Since the time of THE EVOLUTION OF King George to present day, the A WORLD-CLASS CITY capital city has DIPTI SRIVASTVA became not only the political about Delhi is how the city’s GH¿QLWHO\FRPHD capital of India, but also an ancient, medieval and mod- long way. The city is s Delhi completes 100 important administrative unit ern history mingles and rubs famous not only for years as the capital of of the Indian government. In shoulders. Examples of these its pregnant history AIndia, it’s time to re- other words, it is the centre of are everywhere to see. For in- ÀHFW RQ WK\H MRXUQH\ WKH FLW\ Indian democracy which rules stance, the ancient Asokan pil- and rich heritage, has gone through over these the nation. Apart from the his- lar that stands in Feroz Shah but also for its years. Not an easy task over torical monuments like the Kotla, is a place we associate though to encapsulate an entire Red Fort, Purana Quila, Qutab with a sports stadium nearby.” culture and tradition era of a city in to a few lines or Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Jan- No other city in India has had paragraphs. The way the capi- tar Mantar and India Gate, the the pride of hosting two most the Commonwealth Games as tal has evolved is extraordinary rather new entrants like Lotus important international sports far as city infrastructure is con- and its growth has been the Temple make it a most sought events–Asaid in 1982 and cerned. Talking about the rapid pace of development taking place in the city, cultural activ- ist Diwan Singh Bajeli says, “A lot of construction is going RQ ,W LV GLI¿FXOW WR UHFRJQL]H Delhi if you are coming to this town after 10 years.” Besides, to maintain the green reputa- tion of Delhi, one million trees were planted this year. With places like India International Centre, India Habitat Centre, National School of Drama, Mandi House, Triveni Kala Kendra and Kathak Kendra, the cultural activities in the town have risen multi-fold in the past few years. Mu- sic, literature, drama and art have got a new meaning and a new destination. “Because of MNCs and corporate bod- ies from all over the world, an elite class has emerged. Delhi has been culturally enriched and exceptional work is go- LQJ RQ LQ WKH ¿HOGV RI GDQFH political, cultural and religious after city with local as well as Commonwealth Games in drama and theatre. There is a tremendous growth in cultural hub for many rulers since ages. global tourists. Apart from its $QXPEHURIVWDGLDÀ\- But it was on December 12, architectural and archeologi- overs, better roads and trans- activities. Very soon it will 1911, that the National Capi- cal importance, the Trade Fair, port facilities before the Asian emerge as the topmost cultural tal of the then colonized India book fairs and Auto Expo at- Games changed the skyline hub of the world,” Bajeli adds. was shifted by the British from tract visitorseven from other of the city altogether. The de- The impact of various cultures Kolkata to Delhi, re establish- towns. As author and member velopments also included the KDV LQÀXHQFHG WKH FXOLQDU\ ing the city as the political of faculty of the history depart- erection of Tyagraj Stadium preferences of the residents centre for the British Empire ment at the University of Del- But that was only a beginning. also. Today Delhi can boast of in the country. After getting hi, Professor Upinder Singh, What started off at the time of eateries famous for multi-cui- sine savouries. If we have Old Independence in 1947, the city SXWVLW³:KDW,¿QGZRQGHUIXO Asiad ‘82 went further during

R.G.Gupta 34 City/Policy Planner Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI TIMES CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2012

Delhi, known for traditional ity and T3 terminal at Indira wallahs to be more curious and roads like Ring Road Bypass, delicacies, we also have many Gandhi International Airport concerned about the history all À\RYHUVOLNH%DUDSXOODZKLFK leading chains from across the for global connectivity, Delhi around them and to feel that is an engineering marvel in it- globe and designated outlets has truly become world class. they too have an investment self, bridges, healthcare, edu- for cuisines from different The stateof-the-art T3 terminal in its protection and preserva- cation and transport facilities, parts of the world. is one of the most important tion,” aptly points out Profes- added with the economical With the emergence of aviation centres of the country sor Upinder. and cultural growth of the resi- Metro Rail for local transport, “Delhi is a city which has an Well, with a skyline replete GHQWV'HOKLWRGD\LVGH¿QLWHO\ Shatabdi, Rajdhani and other amazing historical heritage. with historical monuments and D ¿QH H[DPSOH RI D PRGHUQ trains for inter-state connectiv- It is very important for Dilli- architectural marvels; new historical city. BHOPURA-LONI ROAD IN TATTERS MUNNA MISHRA along the road says, only two KDV LQÀX[ RI KHDY\ YHKLFOHV paired this road but if the road years ago the road was laid so the road needs to meet a is getting damaged we cannot overnment is in- afresh giving hope of a bright certain standard, says the resi- do any thing now. We did not structing GDA, future and residents were hap- dents of this area. have maintenance clause when Awas Vikas and py, but our hope got dashed The residents now feel we awarded the contract. GUPSIDC to explore sooner than we had expected. surprised as to how the road When this reported asked options to execute housing and Within two months of con- got damaged in such a quick the GDA chief engineer to industrial schemes in these ar- structing the road, the road succession-in two months, comment on the development, eas expeditiously, the road to started tearing down at several and what accountability was R.K. Singh replied that, the Loni points to sheer callous- places. ¿[HG IRU WKH FRQWUDFWRUV ZKR road was led during the time ness on the part of GDA. The It is quite interesting that had constructed this road? The of former chief engineer so, road reminds one of the primi- this road is the main connec- residents are not ready to buy he cannot comment on what tive age. Residents of these tivity to Delhi border and resi- the argument that the road gets quality mechanism was put areas claim that the road is not dents who have been crossing damaged due to heavy vehicles in place and how such poor - either side of the-barder only as they say that the GT Road, HYHQ¿WIRUWUDYHOLQJE\EXOO quality road was constructed. RFNFDUW%XWWKH*'$RI¿FLDOV crib and curse their fate. Sev- Link Road, NH 24, NH 58 all We have also received several seem to be in hurry to clear eral public representations to KDYH KLJK LQÀX[ RI YHKLFOHV representations so we are try- the last bill of the contractor the GDA when did not move but roads are quite good as ing to locate the contractor and who had constructed the road WKH *'$ RI¿FLDOV WKHVH DJ- quality were not compromised ZLWKRXW ¿[LQJ DQ\ UHVSRQVL- grieved residents, approached with. The residents alleged ask him to get the road repaired bility The road is lying in a the then district magistrate WKDWWKH*'$RI¿FLDOVDUHLQ- EHIRUHKLVODVW¿QDQFLDOLQVWDOO- shabby condition with having Hirdesh Kumar and sought dulging in corrupt practices ment is cleared. Sources also thousands of potholes dotting KLVLQWHUYHQWLRQZKLFK¿QDOO\ and are not paying any heeds said that the contractor is put- the whole 7 km stretch, which led to the GDA repairing this to their request. When this ting pressure on the GDA of- gives the commuters knee-jerk road last year. But again the reporter asked the GDA VC, ¿FLDOVWRFOHDUWKHODVWVHJPHQW and bone breaking experience repair work which was carried Narendra Kumar Choudhary of bills which is withheld with every day. The issue is bound half-heartedly, the patch even to comment on the residents’ the GDA, as with the change to take political overture dur- worsened further. allegation, he replied that the of guard some investigation ing the ensuing election, say The road was carpeted at a residents are free to hurl any might be carried against him. the residents of the areas. staggering cost of Rs.12 crore allegations, but we at our end %XW WKH *'$ RI¿FLDOV ZHUH Idrish Mohammad, who and the argument was put for- know that on the intervention tightlipped on who the con- runs a motor mechanic shop ward by the GDA that the road of then collector we had re- tractor was.

R.G.Gupta Shifting of Capital from Kolkata to Delhi. City/Policy Planner 35