Question

What changes did Delhi witness in the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

The city of Delhi witnessed the following changes in the twentieth century:

New Capital City: The coronation of King George V was celebrated here and Delhi was declared as the capital in $1911$ . It was shifted from Calcutta. A grand durbar was organised on this occasion in the city. Once Delhi was declared capital, the British set to beautify it.

Beautification of the City: The new city was purposefully designed to be extremely distinct from the old city. This was because the British sought to erase the memories of the Mughals from people's minds in order to demonstrate the enlightened nature of their reign and to show their concern for the people of India.

Building the New City: The two British architects- Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker started to plan and rebuild the city suited for British imperial needs. Structures like Viceroy's House, Parliament House, India Gate, and Secretariat Buildings were constructed by them. These buildings were specimens of imperial architecture and the city of New Delhi was built with these structures.

Plans of the New City: The new city included wide streets, large houses, and beautiful gardens. A bungalow was a big one-story building with a front lawn and a back kitchen garden. The servants' quarters were on one side of it. In addition, New Delhi was a highly-clean city. Drainage was a major expense for the British. There was an effective water supply system, sewage disposal, and appropriate drainage facilities. The old city of Shahjahanabad and the new city created by the British had very distinct characteristics.

What changes did Delhi witness in the twentieth century?

Important Questions on Colonialism and Urban Change

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