Introduction
The Rashtrapati Bhavan (Sanskrit for Presidential House) or The Official Residence of the Head of the State is the official residence of the President of India, located at Raisina Hill in New Delhi, India. Until 1950, people knew it as “Viceroy’s House,” and it served as the residence of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. It stands amidst an area known as Lutyens’ Delhi.
Largest Residence of Any Head of State
At present, it is the largest residence of any Head of State in the world. Planners had initially scheduled the construction of the building for 4 years, but World War I intervened, extending the construction period to 19 years. Its first occupant, Lord Irwin, moved into the premises on January 23, 1931.
Architectural Splendor
The splendor of the Rashtrapati Bhavan is multi-dimensional. It is a vast mansion and its architecture is breathtaking. More than these, it has a hallowed existence in the annals of democracy for being the residence of the President of the largest democracy in the world. Few official residential premises of the Head of the State in the world will match the Rashtrapati Bhavan in terms of its size, vastness, and magnificence.
Historical Background
Architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens designed the present-day Rashtrapati Bhavan, originally the residence of the British Viceroy. Following the Delhi Durbar of 1911, the decision to move India’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi led to the construction of this residence, symbolizing the permanence of British rule. Critiques described it as ‘an empire in stone’, representing imperial dominance and elite governance. Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s inauguration as the first President of India on January 26, 1950. It marked the transformation of this symbol of colonial power. The building was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan. Its new role as the residence of the President and a symbol of Indian democracy.
Contributions by Indian Contractors
Apart from Edwin Lutyens, the Chief Architect, and Chief Engineer Hugh Keeling, many Indian contractors participated in the construction of this building. The Muslim contractor Haroun-al-Rashid primarily undertook most of the work on the main building. Sujan Singh and his son Sobha Singh built the forecourt. Surprisingly the names of these Indians did not find a place in the official biography of Lutyens.
Cost and Duration of Construction
The sanctioned amount for the building was earmarked at 400,000 pounds. However, the long span of seventeen years required for the construction of the building. It cost 877,136 pounds (then Rs. 12.8 million). Once the Viceroy’s residence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan became India’s Presidential House in 1950, signifying the nation’s shift to democracy. Reports attribute to Edwin Lutyens the remark that the money invested in the construction of the building was smaller in amount compared to the cost of two warships.
It is interesting to note that the building which was scheduled to be completed in four years took seventeen years and on the eighteenth year of its completion India became independent.
Structural Specifications
This vast mansion has four floors and 340 rooms. With a floor area of 200, 000 square feet it is built by using 700 million bricks and three million cubic feet of stone. Hardly any steel has gone into the construction of the building.
Prominent Dome Design
The dome, superimposed on the structure, stands as the most prominent and distinguishing aspect of Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is visible from a distance. It has the most eye-catching round roof with a circular base in the heart of Delhi. While Lutyens ostensibly acknowledged the Pantheon of Rome’s design influence on the dome, informed analysts strongly believe he structured it in the pattern of the great Stupa at Sanchi. The dome’s predominantly Indian architectural influence is evident from the railings of Sanchi origin encircling it. The whole of Rashtrapati Bhavan embodies Indian architectural patterns such as Buddhist railings, chakras, chhatris, and jaalis.