Happy Birthday New Delhi: City hits a century

Today, New Delhi completes 100 years of being the capital of India, one of the most rapidly growing economies of this century.

It was on December 12, 1911, that George V, then Emperor of British-controlled India, announced that the capital would be moved from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi.

The announcement made by George V at Coronation Durbar restored the lost glory of Delhi as the traditional seat of power and capital of the subcontinent before the arrival of British on the political landscape of the country.

Converting Delhi into an imperial capital was a challenging affair. The powerful British Raj in India took 20 long years to unveil ‘New Delhi’ in 1931 with its imposing buildings, which continue to be epicenter of power in independent India.

Delhi has come a long way now from 1911 to 2011. It is no more under colonial rule and no more a city with mere 24 lakh population. It now houses about 17 million, and is a melting pot of varied cultures.

Many a dynasty rose and fell during its centuries-old history but New Delhi has become the cornerstone of India’s vast democracy. Delhi has literally become the heart of India- politically and economically.

But the city is holding low-key celebrations to mark the centenary and no official ceremonies are planned.

However, a year-long series of celebrations – exhibitions, festivals and release of souvenirs – is expected to begin in January to observe the event. The centenary has been largely ignored by Indians, and the majority of the capital’s main newspapers did not carry the news on their front pages on Monday.

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