Delhi - History and Geography with a view to Defense issues

[Contrarian]

@Chak Bamu
it took them 20years to set up everything in place (i dont remember the names of architects who planned Delhi)

Lutyens

 

[Levina]

I think y'all should just forget about changing capitals business. Nobody is having a war any time soon. China, Pakistan, and India are all nuclear powers with missile technology. Shifting capital for sake of buying time in case of incoming missiles is quite pointless. Technological level possessed by foes today should not have you make a decision with very long term repercussions. If there is no overt dissatisfaction with Delhi, then you should just forget about moving the capital. It is going to be a can of worms, I tell you.

Let us focus a bit on history, geography, culture, and heritage of Delhi..... So who lives in Delhi? Anyone on PDF? There must be a few here....

Well you misunderstood me.
I dont want our capital to be relocated just because it is closer to Pakistan or China.Its because Delhi is situated in a seisimic zone, it is over populated and to me its a symbol of British raj.

I have lived in Delhi for some years and it was unfortunately the worst place I have been to in India.That should be one strong reason why I dislike Delhi so much.
Culture wise I think its mostly punjabi thing.Many settled in Delhi speak Punjabi with ease mostly because the culture comes close to that of Punjabis.

There are many delhites on this forum @Dillinger being one of them.

I think India should build a new well planned city for this somewhere in MP or Karanatka

Right and then I would have voted for Jabalpur.

Lutyens

I thought there were 2 guys.

 

[Chak Bamu]

Lutyens

From Wikipedia
Edwin Lutyens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Delhi[edit]


Rashtrapati Bhavan, formerly known as Viceroy's House, was designed by Lutyens.
Largely designed by Lutyens over twenty or so years (1912 to 1930), New Delhi, situated within the metropolis of Delhi, popularly known as 'Lutyens' Delhi', was chosen to replace Calcutta as the seat of the British Indian government in 1912; the project was completed in 1929 and officially inaugurated in 1931. In undertaking this project, Lutyens invented his own new order of classical architecture, which has become known as the Delhi Order and was used by him for several designs in England, such as Campion Hall, Oxford. Unlike the more traditional British architects who came before him, he was both inspired by and incorporated various features from the local and traditional Indian architecture—something most clearly seen in the great drum-mounted Buddhist dome of Viceroy's House, now Rashtrapati Bhavan. This palatial building, containing 340 rooms, is built on an area of some 330 acres (1.3 km2) and incorporates a private garden also designed by Lutyens. The building was designed as the official residence of the Viceroy of India and is now the official residence of the President of India.

The Delhi Order columns at the front entrance of the palace have bells carved into them, which, it has been suggested, Lutyens had designed with the idea that as the bells were silent the British rule would never come to an end. At one time, more than 2,000 people were required to care for the building and serve the Viceroy's household.

The new city contains both the Parliament buildings and government offices (many designed by Herbert Baker) and was built distinctively of the local red sandstone using the traditional Mughal style.

When composing the plans for New Delhi, Lutyens planned for the new city to lie southwest of the walled city of Shahjahanbad. His plans for the city also laid out the street plan for New Delhi consisting of wide tree-lined avenues.

Built in the spirit of British colonial rule, the place where the new imperial city and the older native settlement met was intended to be a market; it was there that Lutyens imagined the Indian traders would participate in "the grand shopping centre for the residents of Shahjahanabad and New Delhi", thus giving rise to the D-shaped market seen today.

Many of the garden-ringed villas in the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone (LBZ)—also known as Lutyens' Delhi—that were part of Lutyens' original scheme for New Delhi are under threat due to the constant pressure for development in Delhi. The LBZ was placed on the 2002 World Monuments Fund Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. It should be noted that none of the bungalows in the LBZ were designed by Lutyens—he only designed the four bungalows in the Presidential Estate surrounding Rashtrapati Bhavan at Willingdon Crescent now known as Mother Teresa Crescent.[12]Other buildings in Delhi that Lutyens designed include Baroda House, Bikaner House, Hyderabad House, and Patiala House.[13]

Lutyens was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) on 1 January 1930.[14]

A bust of Lutyens in the former Viceroy's House is the only statue of a Westerner left in its original position in New Delhi. Lutyens' work in New Delhi is the focus of Robert Grant Irving's book Indian Summer. In spite of his monumental work in India, Lutyens had views on the peoples of the Indian sub-continent that, although commonly held by those of his class and times, would now be considered racist.[15]

 

[Contrarian]

Well you misunderstood me.
I dont want our capital to be relocated just because it is closer to Pakistan or China.Its because Delhi is situated in a seisimic zone, it is over populated and to me its a symbol of British raj.

I have lived in Delhi for some years and it was unfortunately the worst place I have been to in India.That should be one strong reason why I dislike Delhi so much.
Culture wise I think its mostly punjabi thing.Many settled in Delhi speak Punjabi with ease mostly because the culture comes close to that of Punjabis.

There are many delhites on this forum @Dillinger being one of them.

As am I - a Delhi'ite.
And not liking Delhi is not a valid reason at all. Lets keep personal views aside.

Secondly, compared to Bombay and Calcutta, per capita land in Delhi is double that of these cities. So its population is okay - at 16 million. It manages its population better than Bombay and Calcutta.

The reason I want the Capital to move out of Delhi is because Delhi is an investment magnate for entire North West India. Gurgaon and Noida have already developed as full fledged cities on the back of Delhi.

I would argue that Delhi is the most developed city of India.

It is time, that the same investment push is given to another part of India - preferably one that is poor.

And a new city be built, instead of making an existing city as the Capital. Maximum benefit is gained when a new and planned city is made. So ideally either MP or Vidharba region of Maharashtra are the best places.

 

[Geek]

Right and then I would have voted for Jabalpur.

Yeah but for capital of India we need a large amount area. Everything should be planned first and also a International finance Tec-City in it like one is under construction in Gujarat. India is home of Huge Real estate business. Trust me if India want to build city like this it'll be not that hard.

 

[Levina]

@Chak Bamu @Contrarian
I was sure there were 2 architects who planned Delhi, Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
Its a very interesting story as to how their freindship came to an end over the planning of Delhi. Might sound a lil OT but still makes for an interesting read How Two Friends Built a City and Fell Out - India Real Time - WSJ

I am still wondering why Baker isnt credited for Delhi??

 

[Chak Bamu]

A great way of generating wealth is to found new cities.

There is a Hadith that says that if cities become too large, new cities should be founded to ease the pressure.

@Chak Bamu @Contrarian
I was sure there were 2 architects who planned Delhi, Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
Its a very interesting story as to how their freindship came to an end over the planning of Delhi. Might sound a lil OT but still makes for an interesting read How Two Friends Built a City and Fell Out - India Real Time - WSJ

I am still wondering why Baker isnt credited for Delhi??

He is. He is mentioned in the Wikipedia excerpt that I copied above. Feel free to find him out and share with us his legacy.

 

[GURU DUTT]

how many know that the ancient name of dehli/dilli as we know it was named after a genral in rajput army .. dille singh it was called lal kot then

 

[Chak Bamu]

how many know that the ancient name of dehli/dilli as we know it was named after a genral in rajput army .. dille singh

Is that right? Never came across this one. I guess one learns something new every day. Can you cite a source or something?

 

[Geek]

Le Corbusier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the guy who planned the cleanest city and first planned city of India Chandigarh.
We need someone like him...Chandigarh has the largest number of vehicles per capita in India. Wide, well maintained roads and parking spaces all over the city ease local transport. You'll hardly see a traffic jam in Chandigarh.

 

[GURU DUTT]

well raid that a long long time back in a book in my school librarry i guess you try google

 

[third eye]

For those who'd be keen to know all about delhi over the ages, a book called ' Delhi' by Kushwant Singh makes interesting reading leaving aside trivialities relating to sex which was his style.

Delhi has been created as a capital 7 times by various dynasties / rulers. Indraprastha, Tuglakabad, Purana Quila, Shahjehanabad , New delhi to name a few.

Wonder how many here know that whichever dynasty founded a new city perished / left - The Brits being the last.

 

[Indischer]

I want the capital to be moved out of Delhi for entirely different reasons. Our Republic Day parades look so dull every year, because of the awful smog that engulf Delhi during that time of the year. The aerial displays are almost always a total blur. Hence, time to move it someplace else. Bhopal would be my choice. It's geographically at the center of India, and it's own geography can ensure a rapid expansion should there be the need for one.

 

[Chak Bamu]

For those who'd be keen to know all about delhi over the ages, a book called ' Delhi' by Kushwant Singh makes interesting reading leaving aside trivialities relating to sex which was his style.

Delhi has been created as a capital 7 times by various dynasties / rulers. Indraprastha, Tuglakabad, Purana Quila, Shahjehanabad , New delhi to name a few.

Wonder how many here know that whichever dynasty founded a new city perished / left - The Brits being the last.

What about Gandhi dynasty? Your thoughts? Ok, sorry... I could not resist this one.

 

[Contrarian]

A great way of generating wealth is to found new cities.

There is a Hadith that says that if cities become too large, new cities should be founded to ease the pressure.

One of the reasons why I am very happy that the Center did not make Hyderabad a Union Territory(UT). UT's are owned and run by the GoI, instead of the states.

When a city becomes very contested by different parties, GoI steps in and makes it neutral by taking it(declaring it as a UT).

It happened when Punjab and Haryana were split. Both laid claim to Chandigarh. Center took the decision to make Chandigarh as a UT. The result of this is that Chandigarh is a common capital for both Punjab and Haryana. And neither are going to leave it. Had this not happened, then either Punjab or Haryana would have been forced to build a new capital, and a decade later, it would have yielded them much in terms of better standard of living and taxes.

Unfortunately no politician in India wants to work for long term prosperity, just short term gains.

This time, when Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were being split, Andhra was demanding the same thing, that Hyderabad be declared as UT.
Fortunately though, the Center refused. Telangana got Hyderabad. And now Andhra Pradesh will now have to build a new city of its own. Its already in the process of identifying land for the new city and their Chief Minister has said he will make a great city.

Good enough for me.