Jaipur Column

The Jaipur Column is a monumental column in the middle of the courtyard in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential residence in New Delhi, Delhi, India. In 1912 Madho Singh II, the Maharaja of Jaipur, offered to sponsor its construction to commemorate the 1911 Delhi Durbar and the transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi.[1]

Jaipur Column in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan, viewed from the east

The column was designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. In 1920, Lutyens submitted his design for the column to the Royal Academy of Arts in London, as his diploma work for his election as a fellow of the academy. The structure was completed in 1930.[1]

The column is predominantly made of cream sandstone, with red sandstone used for the base. At the top there is an egg surmounted by a bronze lotus flower and a six-pointed glass star. These are supported by a steel shaft running through the column's entire length.[1] Different sources give the height as 145 feet (44 m)[2] or 148 feet (45 m).[1]

Jaipur Column from west with north block at Rashtrapati Bhawan

There are bas-reliefs around the base, designed by the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger.[1] Jagger also designed the elephants carved into the walls around the courtyard,[3] as well as the statue of George V, Emperor of India which formerly stood under the canopy next to India Gate.[1]

Evening view with light display

On the base there is an inscription, with wording supplied by Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India:[4]

In thought faith
In word wisdom
In deed courage
In life service
So may India be great

This was a modification of the wording originally proposed by Lutyens:[4]

Endow your thought with faith
Your deed with courage
Your life with sacrifice
So all men may know
The greatness of India
  • An egg surmounted by a bronze lotus flower and a six-pointed glass star
  • The first stones were led by The king Emperor George The Fifth and his consort Queen Mary on the 15 December 1911
  • Bas-reliefs around the base, designed by the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger
  • As per writeup on the column-Madho Singh II, the Maharaja of Jaipur, offered to sponsor its construction to commemorate the 1911 Delhi Durbar and the transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi

Notes
  1. Amery, Richardson and Stamp (1981), pp. 179–80.
  2. de Bruyn, Bain, Allardice and Joshi (2010), p. 429.
  3. Amery, Richardson and Stamp (1981), p. 172.
  4. Singh and Rai (1983), p. 41.

References
  • Amery, Colin; Richardson, Margaret; Stamp, Gavin (1981). Lutyens: The Work of the English Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944). London: Arts Council of Great Britain. ISBN 0-7287-0304-1.
  • de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David; Joshi, Shonar (2010). Frommer's India. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8.
  • Singh, Khushwant; Rai, Raghu (1983). Delhi: a portrait. Delhi: Delhi Tourism Development Corporation. ISBN 0195614372.

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