Rajaji Utsav was celebrated on Monday at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the country’s national capital Delhi. The first Indian Governor-General of independent India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, is known as Rajaji. Draupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Chakraborty Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. This statue has been installed in place of British architect Edwin Lutyens. Since then, Edwin Lutyens is being discussed on social media.
Edwin Lutyens was a British architect, who is also known as the designer of New Delhi. He laid out the outline of the capital and designed many sites. A mixture of European style and Indian architectural style is visible in his design.
Why did Edwin Lutyens come to India?
In the year 1911, King George V made a big announcement in the Delhi court. He announced the transfer of the country’s capital from Kolkata to Delhi. However, many reasons were given behind this. The voice of revolutionaries against the British in Bengal was also a reason for this. After this announcement, the British government believed that their power would increase by making Delhi the capital. Delhi will become a symbol of the British Empire.
Edwin Lutyens.
The British believed that many such buildings should be built here which would be for big British officials. Will be for the British nobles. For this he needed an experienced architect. British architect Edwin Lutyens lived up to British standards.
In 1912, Lutyens was officially invited to India and the outline of Delhi was prepared. He decided the design of government buildings and roads. He worked with Herbert Baker on many famous buildings.
How did Delhi change?
British architect Edwin Lutyens designed many parts of Delhi. It houses the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was called the Viceroy’s House. It became the official residence of the President of India. Which was made by combining Indian umbrella-jali and European style. A memorial was built in memory of the Indian soldiers martyred in the First World War, which is known as India Gate. Designed it.
India Gate.
Apart from India Gate, he designed many parts and roads of Delhi including Old Parliament, North/South Block and Connaught Place. This includes Amrita Shergill Road, Prithviraj Road, APJ Abdul Kalam Road (Aurangzeb Road), Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakyapuri, Khan Market, Connaught Place, Bhagwan Das Road, Tilak Road, Golf Links, Jor Bagh and Sunder Nagar.
What designs were done outside India?
Apart from India, he designed the National War Memorial Cenotaph (1920) in London and Castle Drogo in the 20th century. He also designed many country houses and private residences such as Heathcote. Apart from this, Thiepval Memorial was built in France. This is a huge memorial built in memory of the missing soldiers of the First World War. The specialty of their architecture has been the European classical style in which local styles were also added.
Also read: Why could Rajagopalachari not become the first President of the country despite getting Nehru’s support? Now Rajaji’s statue has been installed in place of Lutyens