Archway to history: India Gate turns 100
India gate was constructed to honor the soldiers of India that were killed during world war 1.
Here's one for history buffs. After whom is Delhi's iconic shopping centre Connaught Place named? Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught. That was easy. Here's a tough one. Who set the ball rolling for the construction of India Gate? Duke of Connaught again.
IMAGE: If one looks closely, one can see the names of soldiers who died etched on the surface of India Gate. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
He laid the foundation stone of the All India War Memorial Arch in Delhi, or India Gate as it is now known, exactly 100 years ago on February 10 in 1921 during a visit to the country.
The 42-metre-high sandstone monument, sometimes compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was opened after a decade. Ninety years on, it is still the centre of India's sprawling capital, an eternal flame burning under the arch in memory of soldiers who laid down their lives for the country.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, was an uncle of King George V, the then reigning monarch of the British Empire who held a grand durbar in Delhi in 1911, where he also announced the shifting of the imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
Following this decision, work began to create a new capital in the Raisina Hill area, the foundation stone of which was laid by the king on December 15, 1911.
Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker laid out their plans for a new imperial capital, with the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) and the North Block and South Block as the centrepiece of New Delhi, as the city was officially named in 1926.
However, during the construction of the new imperial capital city, World War I broke out and a large number of soldiers from the British Indian Army were sent to war zones.
In 1921, during the Delhi leg of his India visit, the Duke of Connaught laid the foundation of the All India War Memorial on February 10 and the Council Chamber of the Parliament House, designed by Baker, two days later.
According to a 1921 publication of the Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta, units of the Army from across the country gathered at the event in "New Delhi", which was under construction.
"On this spot, in the central vista of the capital of India, there will stand a Memorial Archway, designed to keep present in the thoughts of the generations that follow after, the glorious sacrifice of the officers and men of the Indian Army who fought and fell in the Great War," the Duke of Connaught said in his speech.
"The men were nobly led and the officers were bravely followed, and we give thanks to Almighty Providence that the cause for which they fought was the cause which prevailed, and that our memorial is not one of lives lost in vain, but a monument of great and overwhelming victory," he said.
The All India War Memorial Arch was built to honour the soldiers who died in the First World War (1914-1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919).
Look closely, and you can see the names of soldiers who died etched on its surface.
Over 80,000 Indians laid their lives in those campaigns and India Gate has the names of 13,516 soldiers.
The Amar Jawan Jyoti was built to commemorate India's victory in the India-Pakistan War of 1971, an Army official had said.
The Amar Jawan Jyoti is a memorial symbolised by an inverted bayonet and a soldier's helmet over it with an eternal flame burning beside it. It was built in 1972 underneath the India Gate arch in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives.
The India Gate lawns are still the place for people in the city to go for a walk, picnic or just pick up an ice-cream and a must-see for every visitor to the city. A continuum in history as the city has grown over the decades.
This structure boasts of a beautiful architecture by India. It was first inaugurated in the year 1931 and it still has the same charm. Also, this structure reminds of us the sacrifices made by thousands of soldiers who have given their lives during the first world war. The essay on India gate is an insight into this famous memorial in India.
Essay on India Gate
Whenever someone visits Delhi, they never miss the India gate. Thus, it has become one of the integral parts of Delhi and also a major tourist attraction. The locals as well as the tourists coming to visit Delhi flock this place all around the year. Also, for many locals, the sprawling lawns around the gate on both sides is a nice picnic spot.
It is very easy to reach the India gate as it is located centrally. Also, for winters, people pack their lunch and head to India gate along with their friends and families to spend the quality time. One can see children playing in these lawns along with elders sitting. The sight also looks good during the summer months. However, the most beautiful time to visit this place is in the night when it is illuminated fully with lights.
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India Gate and its Architectural Design
India is famous everywhere as a memorial as well as a marvelous architectural design. This monument took 10 years to build and was designed under the supervision of Edwin Lutyens. Also, he was a member of the imperial war graves commission and it was formed in December 1917. Additionally, he was specialized in designing of the war memorials and graves. Thus, Edwin Lutyens was given this task of designing the war memorial in India.
India gate is located in the heart of Delhi and is a 42 m tall edifice which is also 9.1 m in width. Also, the gate is mainly made up of red and yellow sandstone and granite. Additionally, the architectural style of the India gate is based on the triumphal arch. So, there is a domed bowl at the top of India gate and it is made with the aim of filming it with burning oil on important days like anniversaries and national festivals. Also, the architectural of India gate is based on Arc de Triomphe de l’Etolie. This is considered as one of the most famous monuments in Paris.
Amar Jawan Jyoti
India gate was made to commemorate the soldiers of the British Indian that were killed during the first world war, there was a small edifice that was constructed under the honor of soldiers that lost also lost their lives during Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. Thus, Amar Jawan Jyoti is considered as an integral part of the India gate. Amar Jawan Jyoti is seen as a black pedestal with a rifle inverted covered with a black helmet on the top.
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