In the 1911 Imperial Durbar,The capital was shifted from Calcutta(Kolkata) to Delhi. King George V made this announcement. Edwin Lutyen was selected as the architect & Sir Sobha Singh was the authorised contractor.Both did a fine job,in Delhi rose the Capital of the mightiest empire of the sub continent. The India gate was constructed as a memorial for the Indian soldiers,who were killed in the Third Afgan War & the First world War.The Jaipur pillar with a six pointed star,is a masterpiece. It was paid by the Maharaja of Jaipur. that is why it is called by that name.The India gate roundabout,there was a white canopy in which sat the King George V on a grand throne.
I visited New Delhi in the year 1956 & was really impressed..There was Kingsway(Now called Rajpath) & Queen's way(Now called Janpath) running at right angles.The Janpath,led to Cannaught Place(HRH Duke Cannaught represented the King ( Edward VII) in 1903 & attended the Imperial Durbar.Many officer's messes were around the India Gate.Earlier The Air Force Officre's mess(Central vista mess) was just opposite to National Archieves.The King's statue was removed & there was a proposal to install Mahthma's statue under the canopy,but there was stiff opposition,due to the fact that the India Gate, a memorial for Merceneries was not the suitable place Now Mahatma Gandhi is there ,right in front of Parliament. Many roads were renamed. we have Road names like Rajendra Prasad,Rajagopalaachari,Zaki r Hussain,Radhakrishnan Etc. Gandhi exhorted Indians to Join the Army, during the First world war & defend the British Empire. In fact he even raised an Ambulance Unit of Stretcher bearers to serve in France. I was told Mohamed Ali Jinnha lived at 10, Auregzeb Road in a private mansion. Though lot of new buildings have come up,by & large,the ambience of Lutyens Delhi is preserved,
I visited New Delhi in the year 1956 & was really impressed..There was Kingsway(Now called Rajpath) & Queen's way(Now called Janpath) running at right angles.The Janpath,led to Cannaught Place(HRH Duke Cannaught represented the King ( Edward VII) in 1903 & attended the Imperial Durbar.Many officer's messes were around the India Gate.Earlier The Air Force Officre's mess(Central vista mess) was just opposite to National Archieves.The King's statue was removed & there was a proposal to install Mahthma's statue under the canopy,but there was stiff opposition,due to the fact that the India Gate, a memorial for Merceneries was not the suitable place Now Mahatma Gandhi is there ,right in front of Parliament. Many roads were renamed. we have Road names like Rajendra Prasad,Rajagopalaachari,Zaki r Hussain,Radhakrishnan Etc. Gandhi exhorted Indians to Join the Army, during the First world war & defend the British Empire. In fact he even raised an Ambulance Unit of Stretcher bearers to serve in France. I was told Mohamed Ali Jinnha lived at 10, Auregzeb Road in a private mansion. Though lot of new buildings have come up,by & large,the ambience of Lutyens Delhi is preserved,
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