Indian Capital Turns 100

NEW DELHI (NNN-Xinhua) -- Indian capital New Delhi, the eighth largest metropolis in the world with a population of 16,753, 265, celebrated its 100th birthday Monday.

On Dec. 11, 1911, King George V announced the shifting of the capital of the British Raj from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi during the coronation ceremony at Burari.

The site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains, the national capital today is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to its financial capital Mumbai.

Delhi was made the capital in 1911. But when India gained independence from British rule in 1947, New Delhi, a district in Delhi, was declared as its capital and seat of government. It houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India, numerous national museums, monuments, and art galleries.

The Parliament also congratulated citizens on this occasion, with Lower House Speaker Meira Kumar conveying the best wishes of the House to the people in their march towards prosperity and all- round development.

"The nation celebrates 100 years of the return of capital of the country to Delhi from Calcutta. It was on Dec. 12, 1911 that Delhi was proclaimed as the new capital of India at the Delhi Durbar," Kumar said.

"Delhi is not only one of the greenest capitals in the world but also boasts of world class infrastructure and many heritage buildings", she added. --NNN-XINHUA