Durbar Hall
“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom...”
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
With these historic words that remain engraved in the fine pages of India’s past and the consciousness of a nation, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ushered India into an era of independence. The speech reminisced the freedom struggle and envisioned a bright future for India. The magnificent Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan bears testimony to this historic moment of the swearing in ceremony of Independent India's first government.
The grand simplicity of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall is enthralling as it is indisputably the most regal room of the presidential palace. Robert Byron, the famous historian and art critic has rightly said, “Nowhere did Lutyens slip from the high standard of design…he set himself.” Erstwhile known as the Throne Room, it is also where C. Rajagopalachari took oath as the Governor-General of India in the year 1948.
Currently, the Durbar Hall is used to host Civil and Defence Investiture Ceremonies wherein the Hon’ble President of India confers the prestigious honours to the recipients. Swearing-in ceremonies of incoming governments, additions to the Council of Ministers and the swearing in of the Chief Justices of India are all conducted at the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall was also used for paying respects to India’s fifth President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the solemn occasion of his demise in the year 1977.
This ceremonial hall that is right under the central Dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan can be accessed from three sides, through the front forecourt steps via the six meters tall teak door and through the twin ash grey marble stairways on Durbar Hall’s either sides. Christopher Hussey noted that, “the impact of the Durbar Hall, however approached, is immediate, overwhelming and utterly silencing.” The 42 feet high walls are cased in white marble. The dome is said to be 22 metres in diameter and 25 metres above the ground. The double dome feature with an oculus in the centre of the dome floods the Durbar Hall with sunlight, highlighting its features. An exquisite Belgium glass chandelier decorates the Durbar Hall as it hangs from a height of 33 meters from its ceiling.
There are four apses, two on the western side and two on the eastern side that have coffered vaults, the archivolts of which cut into the dome. The Durbar Hall is encircled by columns, made of yellow Jaisalmer marble, with white caps and bases. Twelve marble jaalis in the attic serve the decorative purpose of the room as well as provide ventilation and light. The gleaming marble floor with bold geometrical patterns adds to the majestic aura of this Hall. Robert Byron had rightly said, “The pattern of the floor alone is so huge as to leave the entrant breathless, almost frightened to make his first two or three steps.” The marble used for the floor of the Durbar Hall was mostly from India. The white marble was obtained from Makrana and Alwar, grey marble from Marwar, green from Baroda and Ajmer and pink from Alwar, Makrana and Haripas. However, the deep chocolate colour variety of marble used for the Durbar Hall was imported specially from Italy.
Against the wall, is placed the 5th century A.D. statue of Lord Buddha on a crimson velvet background. In front of this statue is placed the President’s Chair. Earlier, two thrones were placed at this spot, one for the Viceroy and the other for the Vicereine.
The Durbar Hall corridor displays the busts of former Indian presidents, sculpted by noted sculptors from across the country. The Marble walls of the hall have life size paintings of Mahatma Gandhi made by Venkatesh D, C. Rajagopalachari made by Biren De , Shri Jawaharlal Nehru made by Gerasimov and Dr. Rajendra Prasad made by J.A. Lalkaka. Six tall banners in deep red with the National Emblem of India in gold also adorn the Durbar Hall.
Lord Buddha
Imparting Protection
Mathura 5th Cent.A.D.
An exhibit of the Indian Museum in Calcutta, the statue of Gautam Buddha came to Delhi along with the Rampurva Bull and other pieces of art after the great exhibition of Indian Art that was held at Burlington House, London in 1947-48. It was decided that the Indian masses should also have access to these great pieces of art and hence Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall was used to display these exhibits as a temporary National Museum, till their building came up in Janpath. However, when the National Museum was ready in 1960, the statue of Lord Buddha and the Rampurva Bull were retained at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the request of Pandit Nehru.
The word Buddha means, “One who is awake”. This title was conferred upon Prince Siddhartha Gautam who denounced all worldly pleasures and attained enlightenment. This “Indo- Greek Gandhara Buddha” statue belonging to 4th- 5th century A.D., with a halo is one of the most serene images of Lord Buddha. It is rightly noted by H.Y. Sharada Prasad that, “this figure proclaims the supremacy of peace and self-conquest.”
It is believed that the feet of Lord Buddha’s statue correspond in height to the pinnacle of India Gate, which is at a height of 42 metres.