How areas like Lajpat Nagar and Defense Colony grew after partition?

Delhi, India’s capital, is now a bustling megacity with a dense urban population. While it’s not known for agriculture today, its history is deeply rooted in farming that dates back thousands of years. Over centuries, Delhi expanded and became the center of powerful empires like the Tomars, Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughals, who contributed to the region’s agricultural development, along with political and economic growth. By the 19th and 20th centuries, the British Empire controlled much of India, including Delhi. In 1911, the British made a significant decision to move their administrative capital from Calcutta to Delhi, marking the city’s importance as a political and administrative center in British India.

110-year-old photos of Raisina Hill via Delhi Archives  

 

The responsibility to design the entire New Delhi fell on British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. Nayanjot Lahiri in  “Delhi’s Capital Century (1911-2011): Understanding the Transformation of the City” said several locations were considered and rejected, for reasons of health, its undulating land, the space it provided, and its relationship with many historic sites, the Raisina Village area and hill were what appealed to the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge.

 

In 1912, the British government acquired about 1,700 acres of this land from farmers residing in 150 villages to transfer the Capital of the country. During the project to build New Delhi city, 300 families were relocated and the land was acquired from them under the 1894 Land Acquisition Act. 

The land acquisition was not easy, while some of them simply surrendered their lands, others demanded compensation after a long battle. But while many villages got away with just surrendering their lands, the villages falling in central, what would later come to be called Lutyens’ Delhi, had to bear more as the British not only took their lands (with or without their consent) but also uprooted them from their homes.

The British colonial authorities removed seven significant hamlets, both large and small, from their original locations in what is now Lutyens’ Delhi. These villages included Raisina, Malcha, Kushak, Pelanjee, Dasgarah, Talkatora, and Motibagh. The process involved the uprooting and displacement of these communities. The British offered a meager Rs 5 per household as a disturbance allowance, and for agricultural land, they provided Rs 3 per bigha (equivalent to Rs 15 per acre for non-irrigated land) and Rs 4 per bigha (equivalent to Rs 20 per acre for irrigated land) as compensation. These compensation rates were significantly below the prevailing land prices, even for that era.

 

Several of the villages, such as Malcha, Raisina, and Kushak, resisted the British orders to vacate. The British authorities were aware that if Malcha, being the largest among these villages, accepted their terms, the others might follow suit. To ensure compliance, they deployed cannons and issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the villagers to evacuate. The eventual outcome is now a part of history, with the villagers compelled to flee their ancestral homes. Even those who had not accepted the compensation offered by the British authorities did not relent in their refusal to vacate. 

Raisina Hill

The village of Malcha, whose former inhabitants have been engaged in a legal battle in the Delhi High Court since 2012, is seeking compensation because they maintain that they did not accept the compensation offered by the British during the acquisition of their land. Malcha was a significant village with a vast expanse of 1792 acres of land, a portion of which now accommodates 1/3 of the President’s Estate and other major structures in southwest Lutyens Delhi.

 

Malcha comprised a total of 107 households, primarily consisting of farmers. Additionally, there was a Muslim colony known as Talkatora (formerly Thalkatora), which was affiliated with Malcha village. The legal dispute highlights the ongoing efforts of the village’s former residents to seek fair compensation for their ancestral lands that played a pivotal role in the development of South-West Lutyens Delhi.

 

The British also acquired around 2000 acres of land in the Raisina village, which was predominantly inhabited by Jat farmers. Today, some of the descendants of these farmers, who have since relocated to Haryana, are seeking compensation for the land acquired based on the current market rate. The claims made by these descendants vary; some contend that their ancestors received no compensation, while others argue that the compensation provided was inadequate. Some landowners even refused to accept the offered amount.

 

These descendants base their claims on the fact that their ancestors were evicted under the Colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894. To support their case, they invoked the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, which stated that if an award had been made five years or more before the commencement of the Act and the government had not taken physical possession of the land or paid compensation, the acquisition proceedings would be considered lapsed. However, in 2020, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a ruling that old compensation claims could not be revived.

 

India’s independence in 1947 had a profound impact on the city of Delhi. Following Partition, a significant influx of refugees from Pakistan, primarily Punjabis, poured into the city. Initially, many of these refugees sought refuge in neighboring states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh before eventually making their way to Delhi. Delhi emerged as a comparatively safer place, offering improved prospects for employment and business opportunities.

After Partition, thousands of refugees took shelter in Purana Qila in 1947 

 

The landscape of South Delhi, as it stands today, was predominantly agricultural land in the 1940s. However, the Indian government initiated the process of acquiring land in this area to establish permanent settlements for the refugees. Officials from the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation played a crucial role in this effort, systematically surveying the land and evaluating it for the establishment of refugee colonies. This transformation of agricultural land into urban settlements reflects the post-independence challenges and the significant role that Delhi played in providing shelter and opportunities for those displaced during the partition of India.

 

Following India’s independence, the process of acquiring agricultural land and rapid construction took place in Delhi to address the urgent need for housing. Initially, makeshift arrangements were put together to provide shelter, and later, more permanent structures were built. Having property papers was an advantage during this time, as it facilitated the process of securing accommodation. Those without proper documents often had to navigate a bureaucratic maze, seeking a roof over their heads.

 

This period witnessed the rapid emergence of cramped accommodations in newly developed residential areas that seemed to spring up almost overnight. These areas included Lajpat Nagar, Amar Colony, B.K. Dutt Colony, Rajendra Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, Tilak Nagar, and Hari Nagar Ashram. The city of Delhi was transformed as it expanded to accommodate the needs of a growing population, including the refugees and migrants who sought better prospects in the wake of India’s independence.

 

In the years following 1956, Delhi’s northern limits continued to expand as the Indian government allocated 2,000 acres of land to the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation for the permanent resettlement of refugees, as per the 1951 Delhi Census. One of the earliest colonies to be established for this purpose was Vijay Nagar, situated west of Civil Lines. Model Town, located further to the west and north, also appeared on the city’s map during this time. Kingsway Camp, which is now known as Guru Teg Bahadur or GTB Nagar, remained a prominent part of the city.

 

The transformation of southern Delhi began with the development of areas like Lajpat Nagar and Defence Colony. However, the rest of what now forms South Delhi had yet to be developed. With the exception of Malviya Nagar in the southernmost part of the city, where land had been allocated for industries, South Delhi in 1956 largely consisted of agricultural fields, villages, and impressive, yet somewhat eerie, tombs.

 

The city’s urban planning received a more sophisticated framework when Meher Chand Khanna, the then-rehabilitation minister, took charge. South Delhi was a natural choice for early settlement due to its higher elevation and relatively lower presence of river bodies compared to other parts of the city. The southern limit of the city extended beyond Lodhi Road, which was then covered with forests. “Lodhi Road was the southern boundary of the imperial suburban area, and beyond it lay open fields and scrubland where jackals howled and blackbucks roamed,” as described by Ranjana Sengupta in the anthology, “City Improbable: An Anthology of Writings on Delhi,” edited by Khushwant Singh. 

Central Rehabilitation Advisor Mehar Chand Khanna showed an under-construction refugee quarter at Lajpat Nagar to British politician Aneurin Bevan on February 13, 1953. (HT Archives)

 

One of the notable expansions during this period was Chanakyapuri, a diplomatic enclave. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) developed this large area of land, which was acquired from a Gujjar village in the 1950s. Chanakyapuri was subsequently allocated to embassies, chanceries, high commissions, and ambassador residences, establishing it as a prominent diplomatic district in the city.

Delhi 1942 vs 1956 

 

A decade after independence, Delhi had evolved into a different city, with wilderness and agricultural fields giving way to the growth of residential suburbs, commercial markets, and industrial zones. The city’s urban fabric continued to adapt and expand, reflecting the changing needs and aspirations of its diverse population. Agrarian fields gave way to elite conclaves and new residential areas which continue to expand even today. According to the Delhi Planning Department, only 23.85% of agricultural land remains in Delhi and the city is now the most urbanized city in India. Delhi’s journey symbolizes the intersection of historical, political, and social forces, illustrating how cities can adapt and flourish in the face of change. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of India’s capital.

 

REFERENCES:

1. Dabas, M. (2023, August 22). The Jats Who Owned Lutyens’ Delhi And A 104-Year-Old Wait For Compensation. IndiaTimes. https://www.indiatimes.com/news/the-jats-who-owned-lutyens-delhi-and-a-104-year-old-wait-for-compensation-274993.html
2. Bari, A. (2017). : CONTESTED PUBLIC SPACES: WALLED CITY REDEVELOPMENT CASE STUDIES FROM INDIA : Integrating Heritage and Sustainable Urban Development by engaging diverse Communities for Heritage Management. 
3. India’s capital on Raisina Hill – A Facebook Live talk by Swapna Liddle https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=iMxsZoOkQec&ab_channel=INTACHDELHICHAPTER
4. The decade that changed Delhi. https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/partition/delhi/
5. Singh, S. (2023, October 15). ‘Increase investments to address infra deficit, achieve sustainable development.’ Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/increase-investments-to-address-infra-deficit-achieve-sustainable-development-101697372324257.html
6. Team, D. W. (2023, August 10). Independence Day 2023: What is the history of Raisina Hill and how did the term originate? DNA India. https://www.dnaindia.com/explainer/report-independence-day-2023-what-is-the-history-of-raisina-hill-and-how-did-the-term-originate-3055209
7. Chatterjee, Prerana (January 2015) View of Managing Urban Transformations of Refugee Settlements in West Delhi from Camps to Nagars: The Story of Moti Nagar and Kirti Nagar. https://cs.chitkara.edu.in/index.php/cs/article/view/121/108
8. Singh Shisodia, A. (n.d.). Planning for the ‘Urban displaced’: Post-colonial refugee scenario in Delhi. School of Planning & Architecture, Bhopal.