History of Chandigarh

Chandigarh, derives its name from the temple Chandi Mandir located in the vicinity of the site selected for the city. The deity 'Chandi', the goddess of power and a fort or 'garh' lying beyond the temple gave the City its name.

Chandigarh is a modern city with a pre-historic past. The gently sloping plain on which Chandigarh exists, was in the aeons past when the Himalayas were young, a wide lake ringed by a marsh. The fossil remains found at the site testify to a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life which that environment supported. Some 8000 years ago Chandigarh was home to the Harappans. Their potsherds, stone implements, ornaments and copper arrow-heads unearthed during the excavation in 1950s and 1960s testify this. Area near the Church of Sector 18, Sunbeam Hotel, Sector 22 , Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24, CII Complex, Sector 31 etc. were some of the sites from where a lot of relics of Harappans Civilization were found and excavated.

Chandigarh was conceived as the capital of Punjab, in lieu of its lost capital of Lahore after the partition of the country in 1947. But Punjab was divided a second time in 1966, and Chandigarh is today the capital of the states of both Punjab and Haryana. However, the city does not belong to either. Chandigarh is now a Union Territory, administered by the Government of India.

Chandigarh belongs to its people. They love the city, and are proud of the quality of life it continues to provide. Chandigarh is one of the greatest experiments in urban planning and modern architecture of the twentieth century. A bold venture which came to fruition with the juxtaposition of a great vision that the India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nurtured, and the genius of a French architect Le Corbusier and his team. Today Chandigarh is 114 square kilometers of pulsating modern town famous for its architecture and landscaping the world over. It combines elegant architectural forms with wide tree-lined avenues, green belts and gardens and offers a idyllic living experience to its residents and visitors.

THE STORY OF CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh has become synonymous with a certain kind of architecture, along with planned landscaping, not found in the older cities of India. And so we begin the story of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh was designed and constructed as the new Capital of the State of Punjab. The second important objective was to rehabilitate the refugees from Pakistan. The search for the new Capital began immediately after independence and by early 1948, the choice for the new Capital was finally narrowed down to three sites which came to be known in order of preference:

• Ambala site

• Chandigarh site

• Ludhiana site.

The cost of acquisition for Chandigarh site was much less as compared to Ludhiana and Ambala site. The Chandigarh site was also at a safe distance from the Pakistan border. It was felt that instead of siting the Capital at the existing town, it would be better if a totally new town was built for that purpose. The Government of Punjab in consultation with Government of India in March, 1948 selected the Chandigarh site which was located in the Kharar Tehsil of Ambala District.

The city was to be built in two phases over an area of 28000 acres of land in 58 villages. A total of 21000 persons or about 6228 families were likely to be affected. The local people vehemently opposed to the idea of the New City. They formed Anti Rajdhani Committee (Anti Capital Committee) and protested against the Government move to site the new Capital here. The work proceeded at slow pace for about two years. It was only in December, 1949 that the Architect was selected and the government reached the final decision of constructing the capital at the Chandigarh site. The early development of the City was guided by Shri P.N. Thapar, a member of Indian Civil Services who became Administrative head of the Capital Project in 1949 and Shri P.L. Varma, Chief Engineer of Punjab.

Although eager to build a new capital that would compensate for the loss of Lahore, the Indians were nevertheless poorly equipped to carry out their intention. Administered by a large and sophisticated bureaucracy trained in the impersonal idiom of colonial rule, India was still woefully inexperienced in technical areas. Architectural schools were virtually nonexistent, indigenous architectural tradition had practically faded and local craft skills were visibly on the decline. Initially, the Government of Punjab approached American town planner Albert Mayer who along with architect Matthew Nowicki became the key planners for the new city. Albert Mayer was appointed as project architect on 28/12/1949.

Albert Mayer was a Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and he started his career as a Civil Engineer. World War II brought Mayer to India as a United States Army Civil Engineer. He built airfields in Bengal. After the end of World War, he started his Indian career by proposing to build model villages to the new Government of Pandit Nehru. He built some villages in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh . The master plan conceived for chandigarh by the American team had a fan-shaped outline filling the site between the two seasonal river-beds. The plan also had the sectors concept which in this case were called Super Blocks. Each Super Block was divided into three parts, the middle part of which was devoted to the provision of public amenities like shopping, recreation, education and health. At the northern edge of the city was the Capitol Complex against the panoramic back drop of the Shivalik hills. The City Centre was sited in the middle, and two linear parklands ran from the northeast to the southwest. Mayer sought to create a self-sufficient city, restricted in size and surrounded by green belts. Areas were clearly demarcated for business, industry and cultural activities. On 31/8/1950, his co-planner Nowicki died in a plane crash and Mayer could not continue the work.

This vision of Chandigarh, contained in the innumerable conceptual maps on the drawing board together with notes and sketches had to be translated into brick and mortar. Administrator P N Thapar and Chief Engineer P L Varma then went to Europe to look for a substitute. Le Corbusier, eminent architect and urban theorist, was finally selected (20/12/1950) to carry forward this task. Le Corbusier was to be the author of the master plan and the designer of the principal buildings. The rest of the work was to be carried out by a team of three foreign architects, who would be stationed in Chandigarh. They were Maxwell Fry, his wife Jane Drew and Corbusier's cousin Pierre Jeanneret.

He retained many aspects of the original concepts and its components : the Capitol and the City Centre, besides the University, Industrial area, and linear parkland. Even the neighbourhood unit was retained as the basic module of planning. However, the curving outline of Mayer and Nowicki was reorganised into a mesh of rectangles, and the buildings were characterised by an 'honesty of materials'. Exposed brick and boulder stone masonry in its rough form produced unfinished concrete surfaces, in geometrical structures. This became the architectural form characteristic of Chandigarh, set amidst landscaped gardens and parks.

The revised master plan was finalised in early 1951 and the work on the sites began soon after. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of Chandigarh on 02/04/1952 at a spot which is now in Sector 9. The earliest activities were building of roads and laying of service infrastructure. The earliest permanent constructions were pockets of all categories of government houses spread out all over the City. Included in this phase were shops, schools for various age groups, a health centre, a cinema and a swimming pool and Maxwell Fry's government press. Sector 22 with all its facilities and variety of type designs was developed earliest to serve as the model neighbourhood. In the absence of City Centre, it soon became the cultural focus of the City.

The capital of Punjab was officially shifted from Shimla to Chandigarh on 21/9/1953. The President of India Dr. Rajendra Parsad inaugurated the City on 7/10/1953.

Art and Culture

The Cultural Complex (Sector 10)

Chandigarh is the cultural capital of the region. Many artists and writers live in the city. The frequently held exhibitions, and performances by singers, dancers, musicians and actors have inculcated among city residents a desire for the best in performing visual and plastic arts besides literary encounters.

Le Corbusier earmarked a portion of Sector 10 as the Cultural Complex which would include an Audio-Visual Training Institute, a Museum, an Art Gallery, and a 'Miracle Box' ( which never got build ) and later replaced by the Science Museum.

At present there is the Government College of Arts, the Government Museum and Art Gallery alongwith a separate 'Pavilion for Temporary Exhibitions' - now converted into the City Museum. The 'Miracle Box' has been substituted by the Museum of Evolution of Life, not designed by Le Corbusier, but located in the Cultural Complex. The Theatre for Performing Arts was later realised as the Tagore Theatre designed by Aditya Prakash in Sector 18.

Lalit Kala, Sahitya and Sangeet Natak Academy

These three bodies devoted to art, literature, music and dance/drama respectively function in co-ordination with the UT Administration and have their offices in the State Library Building, Sector 34. They conduct numerous lectures, exhibitions, performances and festivals throughout the year.

Pracheen Kala Kendra (Sector 35)

This is a private teaching institution offering degree courses in Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, Kathak and Bharatnatyam among the Indian Classical dance and also folk dances and song. The Pracheen Kala Kendra organises a week-long festival of music and dance every year in March as well as smaller programmes -baithaks- on the 11th of every month. No tickets are required for these programmes. Anyone may attend.

Theaters and Auditoriums

Theatre	Address
Open Air Theatre (2 Number)	Rock Garden, Sector 1
Open Air Theatre	Open Hand, Capitol Complex
Open Air Theatre	Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16
Bal Bhawan - Open Air	Sector 23-B
Tagore Theatre	Sector 18-A
Auditorium	Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10
Bhargava Auditorium	PGI, Sector 14
Auditorium	Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15
Auditorium	Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35-B
Auditorium	Polytechnic for Women Sector 10-D
Auditorium	Home Science College Sector 10
Auditorium	Government College for Girls, Sector 11
Auditorium	Government College of Arts, Sector 10
Auditoria (3 in Number)	D.A.V. College, Sector 10
Auditorium	Government College of Architecture, Sector 12
Auditorium	Law Department Panjab University, Sector 14
Auditorium	Government College of Education, Sector 20
Auditorium	Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23
Auditorium	Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24
Auditorium	Centre Polytechnic, Sector 26
Auditorium	Teacher Technical Training Institute, Sector 26
Auditorium	Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Sector 30
Auditorium	Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36
Auditorium	Mehar Chand Mahajan College for Girls, Sector 36

Architecture of Chandigarh

Chandigarh is one of the most significant urban planning experiments of the 20th century. It is the only one of the numerous urban planning schemes of Le Corbusier, the famous French architect-planner, to have actually been executed.

It is also the site of some of his greatest architectural creations. The city has had far-reaching impact, ushering in a modern idiom of architecture and city planning all over India and has become a symbol of planned urbanism. It is as famous for its landscaping as for its architectural ambience. Most of the buildings are in pure, cubical form, geometrically subdivided with emphasis on proportion, scale and detail.

Le Corbusier summed up his work on the city in an "edict", reproduced here in full:

EDICT OF CHANDIGARH

The object of this edict is to enlighten the present and future citizens of Chandigarh about the basic concepts of planning of the city so that they become its guardians and save it from whims of individuals. This edict sets out the following basic ideas underlying the planning of the city.

HUMAN SCALE

The city of Chandigarh is planned to human scale. It puts us in touch with the infinite cosmos and nature. It provides us with places and buildings for all human activities by which the citizens can live a full and harmonious life. Here the radiance of nature and heart are within our reach.

SECTORS

This city is composed of sectors. Each sector is 800 meters by 1,200 meters, enclosed by roads allocated to fast mechanised transport and sealed to direct access from the houses.

Each sector caters to the daily needs of its inhabitants, which vary from 5,000 to 25,000 and has a green strip oriented longitudinally stretching centrally along the sector in the direction of the mountains. The green strip should stay uninterrupted and accommodate schools, sports fields, walks and recreational facilities for the sector.

Vehicular traffic is completely forbidden in the green strips, where tranquility shall reign and the curse of noise shall not penetrate.

ROADS

The roads of the city are classified into seven categories, known as the system of 7 Vs, as below: V-1 -- Fast roads connecting Chandigarh to other towns; V-2 -- arterial roads; V-3 -- Fast vehicular roads; V-4 -- Meandering shopping streets; V-5 -- Sector circulation roads; V-6 Access roads to houses; V-7 -- footpaths and cycle tracks.

Buses will ply only on V-1, V-2, V-3 and V-4 roads. A wall shall seal the V-3 roads from the sectors.

AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST

Certain areas of Chandigarh are of special architectural interest. Where harmonised and unified construction of buildings is aimed at, absolute architectural and zoning control should remain operative.

Along V-2 central, dual carriageways Madhya Marg and Uttar Marg, where skyline, heights, character and architecture of buildings as planned shall not be altered.

No building shall be constructed north of the Capitol Complex

Along V-2 beyond dual carriageway areas are reserved for cultural institutions only and shall never have any residential buildings

CITY CENTRE

The central plaza in Sector 17 was designed by Le Corbusier as "Pedestrian's Paradise". No vehicular traffic will be permitted in the plaza.

INDUSTRIAL AREA

Only such industry as is powered by electricity would be permitted in the Industrial Area, so that atmosphere is saved from pollution.

THE LAKE

The Lake is a gift of the creators of Chandigarh to the citizens to be at one with the lake and its environments and its tranquility shall be guaranteed by banning noises.

LANDSCAPING

The landscaping of this city is based on careful observation of the vegetation of India. Selected ornamental trees, shrubs and climbers have been planted according to colour schemes to beautify it. In future planting and replacements, these principles must be kept in view. There should be no haphazard replacements, so that the avenues retain their harmony and beauty.

The Leisure Valley, the Rajendra Park and other parks shall be developed as parks only and no building other than already planned shall be permitted.

NO PERSONAL STATUES SHALL BE ERECTED

The age of personal statues is gone. No personal statues shall be erected in the city or parks of Chandigarh. The city is planned to breathe the new sublimated spirit of art. Commemoration of persons shall be confined to suitably placed bronze plaques.

TRUTHFULNESS OF BUILDING MATERIALS TO BE MAINTAINED

The truthfulness of materials of constructions, concrete, bricks and stone, shall be maintained in all buildings constructed or to be constructed.

The seed of Chandigarh is well sown. It is for the citizens to see that the tree flourishes.

Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh : A Profile

Chandigarh – the largest and the most daring experiment in modern urbanism has become the for architects from all over the world. Chandigarh’s pre-eminence as an ‘International City‘ rests largely on the world renowned architect Le Corbusier; who developed its master plan in 1951, based on his urban planning theories and his masterly architectural works.

What is not so well known is the fact that the 20th century's greatest architect also succeeded in getting Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) established as an integral part of the great Chandigarh Experiment. His conviction was that the creation of built environment, however brilliant and consequential, cannot be fully grasped- much less perpetuated – if the principles regulating its concept are not properly understood through study of various components of the city in use.

CCA aims at developing its unique inherent potential and location and to inspire, support, sustain and continue academic programs whereby professionals –trained in the tradition of modern urbanism ushered in by the incomparable master- could extend the frontiers of Creativity in the pursuit of serving the Family of Man -- efficiently, comprehensively, beautifully. The Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) was established on 7th August 1961 and was set up as a part of the great “Chandigarh Experiment” to impart education in Architecture.

Academic Ideology

We believe that architecture, the Great Mother Art, is an ambient social art and it seeks to render comprehensive service to mankind by meeting the complex challenges of contemporary life.

In the light of the profession's new role, we train our students by exposing them to live problems, situations and circumstances. Teaching, throughout the course of five years, is based on an inter-disciplinary approach which in addition to classroom learning through lectures, slide talks, discussions, assignments, comprehension tests, etc. entails numerous site visits and on-the-spot studies. Students are encouraged to make their own observations of facts, to analyze and to evaluate them so that they may learn to reckon the relevance and applicability of investigative studies to the program requirements of creative course work in architectural design.

The College has a well qualified and experienced faculty duly reinforced by visiting faculty of eminent professionals drawn from the field in the disciplines of architecture, planning, urban design, engineering, humanities etc.

Main Thrust

Our main thrust is on the all encompassing nature and scope of Architectural Design. The concept and direction of architectural design, however takes shape gradually through the development of the 10-semester course. Beginning with an introduction to the theory and application of Basic Design, exercises in critical appreciation and creativity culminate in a research and/or design thesis in which a student gets an opportunity to handle all phases of architectural design. This attempt ranges from the choice of the subject of thesis, case/prototype/library studies, analysis, identification/statement of the problem and the objectives to the formulation of client’s, architect’s brief and hence to the planning and design solution.

The States We Serve

This college caters to the needs of architectural education largely of the north-western region, covering the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In addition to this there are 5 (five) seats which are reserved for nominees of states from the northeastern parts of the country which are deficient in architectural education. This lends a more heterogeneous character to the college broadening knowledge of diverse cultures and lifestyles.

Live Exposure

In the light of the profession’s new role, CCA trains the students by exposing them to live problems, situation and circumstances. Peoples, places, objects and events are thus our major inputs in imparting instruction in architecture. Teaching throughout the course of five years is based on an inter disciplinary approach which entails numerous site visits and on the spot studies in addition to class room learning through lectures, slide-talks, discussions, assignments, comprehension tests, etc. Students are encouraged to make their own observations of facts to analyse and to evaluate them so that they may learn to reckon the relevance and applicability of investigative studies to the programme requirements of creative course work in architectural design.

Academic Changes

During the course of its checkered career, CCA has undergone many changes. The semester system was introduced in 1972.

We have now introduced a two-tier scheme with effect from the academic session 1985-86. The 10 semester course is to be offered in two tiers: Stage One, from first to sixth semester and Stage Two, from seventh to tenth semester. Stage One consists of theoretical subjects, tutorials, workshop practice and studio work for a basic grounding in the knowledge about architecture and its tools and skills. Stage Two comprises a six month practical training followed by a large number of elective courses and studies of urban problems, professional practice, town-planning and a thesis. Recently, in 1998 a comprehensive review of the syllabi was undertaken to ensure greater cohesion progression and integration of the various related subjects and their inter-relationship with others.