New Delhi's 106th anniv: Coronation Pillar wears defaced look

On this day New Delhi came into being in 1911, a monumental obelisk that commemorates the Coronation Durbar wears a defaced look and an interpretation centre planned years ago is yet to see the light of day.
A group of boys were seen playing cricket near the Coronation Pillar as decaying marble statues of King George V and four famous Viceroys stonily looked on.
Local residents oblivious to the importance of the place, let alone the day (106th anniversary of New Delhi), wandered about in the park, while graffiti scrawled up on the iconic pillar that marks the site of the Durbar only added to the overwhelming irony.

The historic ground is now part of the Coronation Park, located in Burari area near Kingsway Camp. In the 1911 Delhi Durbar, King George V and Queen Mary were coronated as the Emperor and Empress of India with the monarch announcing the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
The heritage site falling under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) saw decades of neglect, until it was taken up by Sheila Dikshit regime to be redeveloped as a Coronation Park, and work was to be completed by 2011, to coincide with New Delhi's 100th anniversary.
But the DDA after missing several deadlines since then, has only managed to landscape the area, even though the grass has lost its sheen, while the history walls erected in front of the four statues of Viceroys, lie neglected, incomplete and defaced.

Convener of INTACH's Delhi Chapter and author Swapna Liddle, is saddened to know about the fate the iconic landmark has met with.

"It just has been lying underutilised. And any place that lies in such a condition ends up being subjected to defacement. It of course means, we need to impart more eduction to our youth, who think by scrawling their names on public structures, they are achieving something," she told PTI.
"We saw the pillar and the walls being defaced and scribbled with graffiti. So much history and stories connected to the place. And, after all, it is the birthplace of New Delhi. We all should celebrate it for that reason alone," she said.

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was chosen by the DDA as a consultant for the ambitious project.
Ex-INTACH Delhi Convener A G K Menon, had on 104th anniversary of New Delhi, said, "It was a sad commentary that DDA can't look after its own asset."
Liddle says perhaps one of the reasons, such British-era landmarks have not received the due attention, is because, "Many people think colonial history should not be promoted. But studying and knowing about the Raj era through exhibition and other means do not mean we are celebrating imperialism."
"On this very ground two other Delhi Durbars were held, the first in 1877 and the second one in 1903, both being also filled with grandeur and splendour, the royal tents and the other paraphernalia.

"The Durbars also celebrated art, craftsmanship, photography and films. The 'Interpretation Centre' can tell a fascinating tale," she said.
The 'Interpretation Centre' is part of the redevelopment plan. Though its buildings ready, the centre is yet to see the light of day.
A senior DDA official when contacted, said, "I am not aware of the status of the redevelopment project." The official, however, declined to comment on the defacement carried out in the park premises.
The statues tell their own tale of decay. King George V in gleaming marble, once adorned the canopy opposite the India Gate, but was dumped at this site post the 1960s. Other statue were shifted later, from different public places over different periods of time.

Today, the King's face lie disfigured while the statue of Lord Hardinge, under whose Viceroyalty the capital was shifted to Delhi, has lost its sheen. Lord Chelmsford is in a better off condition while damaged statue of Lord Irwin gives appearance of an apparition.
"I came here today for the first time, but had no idea about the historic value of this place, and these big statues. We haven't been taught about the place," said Nikhil, a class 10 student.