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Parlament House is Also Known As
Sansad Bhawan. If it were not for the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of
1919, the Parliament House may not have been built. It’s corny how
the building most indispensable to modern Indian democracy came up
as an afterthought. Earlier called the Circular House, it was added
to the layout at a later stage following the reforms which created a
large Legislative Assembly.
This edifice is the brainchild of Herbert Baker and was much
criticized in comparison with Lutyens creations. An article by
Robert Byron in Architectural Review, January 1931describes it thus:
"The Council Chamber has been Sir Herbert’s unhappiest venture. Its
effect from a distance has been described. It resembles a Spanish
bull-ring, lying like a mill-wheel dropped accidentally on its
side."
The Massive Structure
To the northwest of Vijay Chowk, this huge circular, colonnaded
building comprises three semicircular chambers for the Legislatures
and a Central Library crowned by a 27.4m high dome. It is 173m in
diameter and covers 2.02 hectares in area, with colonnaded verandahs
enclosing the entire circumference. The three semi-circular areas
were designed for the Chamber of Princes, the Council of State and
the Legislative Assembly. Today they house the chambers of the Lok
Sabha (House of the People), Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the
library. A verandah with 144 columns surrounds the three chambers.
The boundary wall has blocks of sandstone carved in geometrical
patterns that echo the Mughal jalis.
An entry pass to the library can be obtained from the Visitor’s
reception on Raisina Road by providing a letter of introduction from
a Member of Parliament. The library working hours are from
1000-1800. To obtain a visitor’s pass to Sansad Bhawan, Indian
nationals should apply to the Parliament Secretariat. Foreign
nationals should apply through their embassies or high commissions. |
