A special French link

HOLLAND's CHANDIGARH VISIT : Chandigarh has promoted a wave of architectural designing all over India and made many architects encourage new ideas.

The programme of President of France Francois Hollande landing at Chandigarh instead of Delhi has a refreshing originality. The reason is obvious – Chandigarh is associated with Le Corbusier, the French architect who designed it. A special link therefore exists between French and India apart from others.

But the decision and history of Chandigarh has a number of interesting and curious diets, some of which are not in public knowledge. A lot of controversy had originated right from the beginning when the concept of a capital for Punjab in the post-Partition period was being worked out.

In 1949, when even the land was still being acquired for the capital, then chief minister of Punjab Bhim Sen Sachar in a meeting with prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that building a capital will necessarily take time and the rehabilitation of those displaced from West Punjab was being delayed.

The chief minister suggested that if Old Delhi, from a little beyond Delhi University campus towards Karnal, could be added to Punjab, the rehabilitation could be quick. Nehru, half seriously and half jokingly, immediately retorted: “No, never, I know you Punjabis, today you are asking for part of Old Delhi, but I know you will in short time occupy the rest of Delhi.” So fortunately, Chandigarh survived and has become a special city with a deep message in architecture at the international level.

The chief minister was very keen to move the government from Shimla to Chandigarh by the end of 1953-54. But the governor was reluctant to do so as Raj Bhawan had not been built fully. Corbusier in concept was to have the secretariat, the high court and the Raj Bhawan in one straight line pinnacles.

But the chief minister insisted on moving immediately – so the house which was built for the chief minister was allotted to the governor and chief minister himself moved into state guest house. Ultimately, the Raj Bhawan of Corbusier concept was never built, thus saving huge expense. It turned out also to be very timely when Punjab was divided into Haryana and Punjab as the old chief minister’s house was converted into Haryana governor’s house.  

Of course, we have had some problems with Corbusier’s concept of the city. I remember when the high court was to move in 1954-55 from Simla, some of us suggested to Corbusier that the Bar Room at the high court was too small. Evidently, Corbusier was of the impression that a Bar Room was not a place for lawyers to work and meet clients but rather a chamber where members could relax and have a drink.

Another serious conflict was that when lawyers had to go to courts other than that of the chief justice on a rainy day, they would be exposed to rain. So, they wanted a covered verandah outside the entrance gate of the Judges’ Courtroom. But Corbusier would have nothing of it. Finally, the lawyers were able to get the ear of Indian architects, who appreciated the problem. So, a half conspiracy was worked out. Corbusier regularly went to France for a couple of months. This absence was used to build a verandah. Thankfully, the verandah has stayed.

Russia’s rejection

It was rumoured that a similar kind of design had been made for the USSR government but it chose not to go ahead with such a plan. I do not know the reason, may be the soviet government thought that it was too expensive a show for proletarian state.

I remember the Soviet president Nikita Khrushchev had visited Chandigarh in 1955. A reception had been given by the Punjab government which by that time was permanently functioning from Chandigarh.

There, the delegation of Russians had come back from a visit to Jaipur. While talking about the ongoing construction in Chandigarh, they had been so enthusiastic about Rajasthani architecture, one of them asked me “why with all that brilliant and exotica history of architecture, you had to import architects from abroad and of different tradition?” I told him politely that this decision was made by our top leaders who we believe know better”.

So, whatever doubts there may have been initially, they were set at rest. Chandigarh has encouraged a wave of architectural designing all over India and made many architects encourage new ideas and designs. Chandigarh is something special and will always be referred to setting new wave of architecture. But I am afraid the Punjab government, especially Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is going to be embarrassed at Holland’s visit.

The apprehension is that while going through the city, President Hollande is bound to read the sign post of New Chandigarh – (the change of name of village Mullanpur now christened by Badals) – obviously New Chandigarh will not and cannot have the essentials and the depth of Corbusier’s deft hand.

Would Hollande not squirm that Chandigarh which has given the world fame to the French architect, may now also be associated with ‘New Chandigarh?’ How embarrassing! It needs to be emphasised that some names have a distinct and special significance and must not be played around as Badals have done. No one should try and cut it down for commercial gains by matching the name with Mullanpur.

The Punjab government should not play the game of name stealing. Can one hope that on this special occasion, Badals show their grace to the memory of Corbusier by utilising the opportunity to change the name of New Chandigarh to its original name of Mullanpur which will be a fitting tribute to Hollande’s visit to the creation of his compatriot?

Also, could the bureaucracy show grace by providing a short time to introduced Hollande to some of the renowned Indian architects who are still around in Chandigarh?

(The writer is retired Chief Justice, Delhi High Court)