How did New Delhi become the capital of India?

Delhi is located in northern India and shares borders with the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The modern city of New Delhi was developed only after 1911 when Delhi became the capital of British India.

New Delhi, the capital of India, represents a palimpsest of over 3,500 years of history and splendour witnessed in the remains of many cities built, abandoned, plundered, renovated and rebuilt over succeeding waves of time.

This article will provide information about New Delhi and its history of becoming the capital of India in the context of the IAS Exam.

The candidates can read more relevant information from the links provided below:

Capitals of India

• As many as 14 capital cities were founded in a small area of about 60 square miles on the left bank of the river Yamuna. 
• The remains of all other capitals may be seen on a visit to the modern city-state of Delhi.
• Of these, the most important are the capital cities built between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries.
• The most splendid capital of all was built by Shah Jahan. Shahjahanabad was begun in 1639 and consisted of a fort-palace complex and the city adjoining it. 
• Lal Qila or the Red Fort, made of red sandstone, contained the palace complex. To its west lay the Walled City with 14 gates. 
• The main streets of Chandni Chowk and Faiz Bazaar were broad enough for royal processions to pass. A canal ran down the centre of Chandni Chowk.
• Delhi during Shah Jahan’s time was also an important centre of Sufi culture. It had several dargahs, khanqahs and idgahs. Open squares, winding lanes, quiet cul-desacs and water channels were the pride of Delhi’s residents. 

Historical Background

• In 1803, the British gained control of Delhi after defeating the Marathas. 
• General Lake of the East India Company defeated the Marathas and subsequently installed the first British Resident of Delhi as the ‘protector’ of the Mughal crown.
• From then on, Delhi witnessed a tightening British hold, followed by an eventual dissolution of the Mughal rule in 1858. 
• The demise of the Mughal Empire was a result of the ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ in 1857 that attempted to re-install independent Mughal rule in India. To read more about the Revolt of 1857, check the linked article. 

Source – Delhi Tourism website

Three Durbars

Coronation Park, located on Burari Road, is perhaps the northernmost historical site associated with Delhi. This was the site where three Imperial Durbars were held. Three durbars were organised by the British to celebrate or announce important events, and the details of the three durbars that were held are tabled below:

In spite of Calcutta being the capital of British India, Delhi was chosen as the site for the Durbars because the city boasted a historical legacy of royal ceremonies.

Making of New Capital

• New Delhi was constructed as a 10-square-mile city on Raisina Hill, south of the existing city. 
• Two architects, Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker, were called on to design New Delhi and its buildings. 
• New Delhi took nearly 20 years to build. The idea was to build a city that was a stark contrast to Shahjahanabad, which is now designated as Old Delhi. 
• The design of the city of New Delhi, and of the individual monumental buildings in it, embodied all the values of the “high noon” of British imperialism. 
• In New Delhi, a whole new city had to be planned too, not just the monumental government buildings and memorials. The street layout, the built-up area, and even the avenue trees were meticulously planned. 
• The architects wanted New Delhi to represent a sense of law and order, in contrast to the chaos of Old Delhi. The new city also had to be a clean and healthy space. 

Also read, Difference between Delhi and New Delhi from the linked article. 

How did New Delhi become the capital of India [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

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