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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part BS. Istanbul 2004
The Shahjanabad is also known as the Old Delhi. The Old Delhi
or the walled city served as the capital for many emperors. At
present, the remains of this historical city are the gates like the
Kashmiri Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate and Delhi Gate.
Shah Jahan also built the famous Taj Mahal. He shifted the
capital city from Agra to Delhi. This city survives and is now
known as the ‘Old Delhi’ of today. The Lal-Qila (Red Fort),
Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid are some of the most
important architectural gifts of Shah Jahan to Delhi (Stephen,
1876). Shah Jahan himself had planned the Lal-Qila (Red Fort).
Because of his architectural and artistic glories his fame spread
throughout the World.
4.8 New Delhi
Finally, the New Delhi was the eighth city of Delhi. The
Britishers built New Delhi, south of Shahjahanabad and shifted
their capital from Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1911. It was built over
an area of around 12.20 sq. kms. in the north at a distance about
10.50 kms. away from the Qutb Minar. In the six decades since
Figure 22 & 23. Connaught Place and Connaught Circus
the creation of New Delhi as the Capital of British India, the
city has undergone a sea change as evidenced by the Figure 22
and 23. Made initially to cater a population of 70,000, the total
population of New Delhi now exceeds 1,71,806 (Census, 2001).
The city has exploded in all directions beyond the confines of
Lutyen’s wide, tree-lined avenues, with an exuberance that is
characteristically Indian. Several factors have contributed to this
breathless pace of growth.
S. URBAN ENGULFING HISTORICAL PLACES
In 1947, the partition of the country resulted into the huge influx
of migrants. Many Muslim families of Delhi migrated to
Pakistan while many Hindus and Sikhs from west Punjab
sought refuge in the city. They were given land west of the
Ridge and south of New Delhi. Many of these refugees also
built their houses across the River Yamuna and north of
Shahjahanabad. Since then, the influx into the city hasn't
ceased. The manpower required by the Government in the
Capital 1s itself staggering. Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and
migrant labourers from all over country have turned to Delhi in
search of livelihood and success, and made it a commercial
capital as well. The cultivated fields which till recently could be
seen on the outskirts of the city have been developed into
residential colonies and commercial complexes. High-rise
buildings now stand check-by-jowl with Delhi’s 1,300
monuments (Sharma, 2001). Villages such as Khirkee,
Begumpur, Hauz Khas, Sheikh Sarai and Nizamuddin which
grew around medieval Delhi's shifting capital cities have now
been engulfed by the urban sprawl. Many of them, however,
retain their Old-World characteristics. The line of distinction
between Old and New Delhi has begun to blur - north, south,
east and west Delhi are more prevalent terms of demarcation as
is shown in the Figure 24. The facilities and opportunities
available in Delhi have attracted peoples from far-flung corners
of the country, making it a melting pot of sorts. So, all these
facts prove to test the first hypothesis laid down for the present
study.
On the other hand, the presence of diplomatic and trade mission,
the growing number of multi-national companies and foreign
investors, and the influx of tourists and visiting professionals
have given the city, especially its southern and central parts, a
DELHI
Decadal Growth of Population
1901-1911 to 1991-2001
120 T-
9 4—
^ 2
2 s
% Growth of Population
m
1911-21 1921-3]. 1931-41 1941-51 1951-61 1961-71 1971-81 1981-9] 1991-01
Decades —A— TOTAL —A—RURAL —— URBAN
Figure 26. Decadal growth of population in Delhi
cosmopolitan air. The coexistence of the past and the present at
many levels characterises Delhi, as it does India. The
assimilation of a specific cultural influence is expressed
differently by people living in different parts of the city, a fact
which offers insights into the social strata (Wirth, 1938;
Robson, 1994 and Bradford, 2003). South Delhi is undoubtedly
the trend-setter, and the fashions and lifestyle introduced here
Division by Districts
2001
1yt sons l'or Sensaro Ffpmcter
| ve 100
at Boundary v j | BEE oe rom
District Boundary wt? 1-1
Vamona River m
Listen Se
Figure 24 & 25. Delhi divisions and population density
/ ;
if DELHI B ( DELHI
Growth of Population Urban Population
Figure 27 & 28. Population growth and levels of urbanisation
