New Delhi is completing a century as capital of India. It was on 12th December 1011 that  King George V, the Emperor of India, declared in the Coronation Durbar at Delhi, that the capital of India is shifted to Delhi from Calcutta.

Since the British entered India through Bengal, Calcutta was their headquarters from the first. Bengal was one of the biggest states also at that time. Later it was bifurcated in to Bengal, Bihar, Assam etc.

But the credential of Delhi goes far back. It was the capital of Mughals from Shajahan  till  the end. However, for a brief period under Humayun, Delhi was capital. But before the Mughals, Delhi has been the capital of six other dynasties. Mehrauli, Siri, Tuglakabad, Firozabad, Purana kila – all were the capital at some time or other.  But however, it was after Shajahan shifted from Agra to Delhi, the city got its glory at the maximum.

It is 100 years since British made Delhi capital. Within these 100 years, Delhi has changed so much. India got independence.The Viceroy’s residence became Raj Bhawan.  The New Delhi city was constructed under the British by architects  Edwin Landseer Lutyen and Herbert Baker. The present Rashtrapathi Bhawan, North and South Blocks, Connaught Place – all were constructed under their supervision. Even now, it is called Lutyens Delhi.

First time i visited New Delhi in the 1960s. I do not remember the exact dates. During these 50 years itself, there has been major changes. It is a saying that those who comes to Delhi wants to be in Delhi only. May not be applicable in every case.