PROBASHI- A Cultural News Magazine Volume 2 Issue 2 | Page 41

Probashi- City

Making of New Delhi

19 years to build a modern, new
capital that they were destined to
rule for a mere 16 years!
While the new city north and west
of Shahjahanabad continued to
grow into a modern metropolis and
a showcase for rising western
architects out to display their talent
and ingenuity, the old city of Delhi
disintegrated after the Durbar of
1911. No attempt was made to
restore the buildings that had been
destroyed or razed during the
Revolt of 1857, nor was any effort
expended on linking the old city
with the new. An invisible cordon
sanitaire divided the two: the old
was cramped, diseased, decaying
and poorly-serviced whereas the
new was spacious, sanitised, well
planned and well laid out. Pockets
of abysmal neglect and wanton
disregard for normal standards of
health and hygiene co-existed with
oasis of privilege.
The most important contractor for
the construction of the iconic
buildings was Sobha Singh (father
of the legendary Khushwant Singh).

An architectural drawing of Lutyens'
iconic dome for the Viceroy's House

A view of the North and South Block buildings taken from Viceroy House. Construction
in full swing

For the South Block and War
Memorial Arch (now India Gate),
Sobha Singh was the sole builder.
He also worked on some parts of
the
Viceregal
House
(now Rashtrapati
Bhavan)
and Vijay Chowk. He constructed
many residential and commercial
buildings, including the Connaught
Place market complex, as well as
the Chelmsford, A.I.F.A.C.'s Hall,
Broadcasting House (All India
Radio), The National Museum, Dyal
Singh
College,
T.B.Hospital,
Modern School, Deaf and Dumb
School, St. Columba's School, Red
Cross Buildings and Baroda House.
Construction of New Delhi began
after World War I. A Meo village
atop Raisina Hill was shifted, the
residents moved to where stands
the present colony of Bhogal,
across the Barapul