By Japan K Pathak

Presented below are the words of Sir Herbert Baker, a British architect of India’s Parliament, North Block and South Block, in his October 1912 article – The New Delhi, Eastern and Western Architecture, A Problem of Style:

‘First and foremost it is the spirit of British sovereignty which must be imprisoned in its stone and bronze. The new capital must be the sculptural monument of the good government and unity which India, for the first time in its history, has enjoyed under British rule. British rule in India is not a more veneer of government and culture. It is a new civilisation in growth, a blend of the best elements of East and West. The effect of this will remain even should British sovereignty ever depart from the shores of India. In the words of Lord Curson, “Our work is righteous and it shall endure.” It is to this great fact that the architecture of Delhi should bear testimony.’

‘We, we in India, have found out the taught a modern world how to govern a continent incapable of the task itself….’

The article was penned down in 1910s, when Britishers were in process to build India’s new capital, New Delhi with Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker as its architects. As you already read, the idea while building these building was to imprison British sovereignty in stone and bronze. The idea was to ensure that a new civilization in growth remain even after British sovereignty depart from India. India according to the architect was incapable of the task of governing itself. India according to an architect had for the first time enjoyed unity and good government under British rule.

Herbert believed the British administration produced the idea of law and order out of chaos to India.

‘More need hardly be said to prove that, while in this style we may have the means to express the charm and fascination of India, yet it has not the constructive and geometrical qualities necessary to embody the idea of law and order which has been produced out of chaos by the British Administration.‘

Herbert was for fearlessly putting the stamp of British sovereignty on the monument (parliament building, North block, South block) of which the British Empire should be so proud. Though he admired Mughal architecture, he believed that Mughal architecture had its origin in the saracenic of Cairo and Damascus and to Hindu sentiment it would be entirely alien.

‘We could, it is true, by tracing back this Mughal architecture to its origin, found a new style on the purer forms of the Saracenic of Cairo and Damascus. In skilful hands, no doubt, a beautiful city would result, but it would not be typically Indian – indeed, to Hindu sentiment it would be entirely alien – and still less would it be British Indian. Should we not be guided by a truer and more natural instinct if we fearlessly put the stamp of British sovereignty on the monument of the great work of which the Empire should be so proud? By so doing we should be following the precedent of the Greeks, the Romans, and of the Saracens themselves when, later in their history, they had put their own impress on the arts which they had at first absorbed.’

Underlined ideas expressed by Herbert Baker are very telling  about the buildings he built in New Delhi, over 100 years ago.

‘Hindu architecture he (Herbert Baker) does not greatly approve, but he traveled extensively, looking for the best, not only to find a formula for Euro-India design, but out of an unquenchable curiosity about architecture and its mental origins,’ reads Illustrated London News, in an appreciation article by Sir John Squire on Baker’s book ‘Architecture And Personalities’ on December 2, year 1944.

Baker’s article in 1910s makes it clear that by Euro-India design he meant European design modified to suit Indian climate. He writes, “… by following the precedents of the best traditions of English architecture, and keeping and open mind for the needs and requirements of India and its Government, satisfy both the demands of the new Delhi, and go far to develop a new style of architecture, which should have spontaneous growth throughout India and in the tropical dependencies of the British Empire. English art at its highest should at least bring no harm to India….”

If it was about element, Baker meant the European design with Mughal elements when he said “Euro-India design”.  So he was for Mughal elements (Saracens origin) and he was for European design, but it was only Hindu architecture that was openly disliked and criticised by him. This is evident  in his book ‘Architecture & Personalities’, apart from other sources.

Sir John’s article mentions that “Baker traveled extensively”, but we don’t know how much exposure of India’s rich Hindu architecture Herbert Baker had. Did he visit the grand Hindu temple complexes of Southern India? Did he visit Havelis of Rajasthan or Ajanta and Ellora caves in then Bombay province or many such wonders?  Or did he travel to Chosath Yogini Mandir (in picture below) and end up at replicating its design to give shape to India’s parliament building? Well, the round shaped Indian parliament building’s design is in stark similarity with the 11th century Hindu Mandir of Chosath Yogini in Madhya Pradesh.

In fact Baker’s idea of plans to have a British stamp over buildings of India’s new capital in New Delhi, had triggered worries among a section of Britishers who greatly admired India’s art and craftsmanship. Such Britishers, led attention of British government regarding this. They had signed and filed a petition addressing Principal Secretary of State for India, to “secure the collaboration of living Indian Architects for the new city of Delhi” and argued: “Here in England where, broadly speaking, no traditional craftsmen have survived ……But India is not England nor Europe, and where there are still master builders and craftsmen and an unbroken building tradition of more than 2,000 years with all that it implies there can be no serious question of style; that is better left to the classifiers and historians…… Indian native architecture would suffer if it was required to take its inspiration from abroad, but if left to the craftsmen the product would still be living art……”

After over 100 years, the parliament building built by Baker has aged. It has no capacity to add more members of parliament which will be necessary post year 2026. One of oddities in existing parliament building is that some members have to sit behind pillars. The Speaker can’t see them, and they can’t see Speaker sitting behind the pillars. The existing building of Parliament is also not earthquake proof as per the seismic zone upgrade in case of Delhi.

So when Speaker Om Birla was couple of days ago putting weight on the word ‘Atmanirbhar’ in his press conference to announce Bhumi Pujan for a new parliament building, or when he added a line on the maturity of India’s democracy with passing of seven decades post independence and scores of general elections, or when he said with great excitement that arts and handicraft from all over India will be showcased in new parliament building, or when architect Bimal Patel in his online presentation a few months ago described the Indian elements of peacock, lotus, triangle Shri yantra etc in reference to a new parliament building, I could connect to all that, as I had read Sir Baker’s ideas of putting British stamp over the buildings of New Delhi. And now you have read it.

DeshGujarat