India’s Old Parliament Building- All You Need To Know (image-www.pib.gov.in)

India’s old parliament will hand over its position to the new infrastructure inaugurated four months ago after today’s Parliament special session. After the transition, the house proceedings will be held in the new building.

• The old Parliament building’s journey ends after serving 96 years in the Indian democratic history.
• This historic building was inaugurated in January 18, 1927 by Lord Irwin, this landmark witnessed many historic events including end of colonial rule, second world war, dawn of independence, adoption of constitution and many more, says Deccan Herald.
• More than 7500 public representatives have served in both the Houses and had approximately 600 women representatives.
• The Parliament was called the Council House in the time of British.
• The historic building with its circular design with a diameter of 560 feet and third of mile circumference was designed by Sir Herbert Baker along with Sir Edwin Lutyens.
• According to the book “New Delhi: Making of a Capital” by Malvika Singh and Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Lord Irwin arrived in his viceregal carriage at a pavilion and proceeded to open the door of the Council House with a golden key handed over by Sir Herbert Baker. The inaugural session was talked about in both foreign and domestic press.
• The last legislative sitting in the building was held in the end of August, the Monsoon session which concluded on August 11.
• The Constituent Assembly had its first meeting on December 9,1946 in the centre chamber and adopted Constitution on November 26,1949.
• AR Datt & Sons studio, one of the oldest studios in Delhi took the photos of the members of the Constituent Assembly which is taken in the Parliament premises.
• The historic building witnessed Jawaharlal Nehru’s midnight speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ on August 15, 1947.
• And also witnessed the terms of Indhira Gandhi, country’s first female Prime Minister. She took oath as the Prime Minister on January 24, 1966.