Birth of the Power Capital

There are not many cities like Delhi that remain in power despite the cyclic rise and fall of empires. The crown of India’s capital was once again bestowed upon Delhi in 1931.

The 1931 postage stamp series celebrated the inauguration of New Delhi as the seat of government. The one rupee stamp shows George V with the "Secretariat Building" and Dominion Columns; Source: Public Domain

New Delhi, the capital city, had its establishment stone laid by George V, the then Emperor of India. The occasion occurred in the Delhi Durbar of 1911. The city's engineering and arranging were finished by two British planners, in particular Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was on 13 February 1931 that Lord Irwin, India's Viceroy, initiated New Delhi as the new capital of the country. From that point forward, New Delhi had gotten the focal point of government, with all the branches (administrative, legal executive and leader) expected to run the country.

Before New Delhi turned into the capital of India, Kolkata had the advantage of being the country's capital till 1911. Nonetheless, Delhi had been the monetary and political focal point of numerous domains that had before administered India. Probably the best instances of this are the rule of the Delhi Sultanate just as the rule of the Mughals from 1649-1857. With the happening to the British in India, numerous things changed. It was in the early time of the 1900s that the British organisation considered moving the capital of the British Indian Empire from Calcutta to Delhi.

One of the principle reasons that were refered to for the capital move was the area of Delhi. Calcutta was arranged in the eastern seaside part of the country, while Delhi was situated in the northern part. The British administration of India felt that administering India from Delhi was simpler and more helpful.

The proposition was generously acknowledged by the British Raj. During the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, George V, the at that point administering Emperor of India, alongside Queen Mary, reported that the capital of India would be moved from Kolkata to Delhi. Alongside the declaration, the establishment stone for Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp, was likewise laid. This would be the Viceroy's home.

Planned by designer Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, the city was, by chance dedicated 'New Delhi' on December 31, 1926.

Upon the arrival of the introduction, four notorious Dominion Columns, each made of red sandstone and bested by imitation of a boat, were disclosed by Lord Irwin in the midst of pomp of trumpets followed by the playing of the (British) public song of praise, as indicated by the book 'Sparkling Decades: New Delhi in Love and War'.

The segments, each a blessing from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, denoted an offer of fellowship and solidarity inside the British Empire.