The abode of great builder

Dilliwala

The rather small service lane at Tees January Lane is hardly the place you would like to go or use in order to reach your destination. But, if you happen to take this route, then you would also see a name plate hanging outside the gate of a mansion that ensure that you stand there
for a while, at least.  That is not possible that even after seeing
the name plate, you would ignore it and move forward. Well, now we
will tell you what is so special about this name plate. It bears the
name of ‘Sir Sobha Singh’. In a fading name plate, you can still read the name of such a legand personality.
Should we tell you that Sir Sobha Singh was a civil contractor and a
prominent builder of New Delhi ?  As a contractor, he built Viceregal
house (now President house), North block, South block, Connaught
Place, Baroda house, Modern School and many more landmark buildings of New Delhi. And you would transported to pre-independence days once you enter the house of a legend. In a decent size room, where the office of Sir Sobha Singh trust operates, one sepia coloured picture would definitely attract your attention. In this picture, some school students of Modern school are touching the feet’s of Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore when he visited there during his visit to Delhi in 1936 while you would also spot tall Sobha Singh standing tall. This very picture is also hanging in the principal room of Modern School (Barakhamaba Road) and understandably so as he remained head of the school governing body for decades together.
While the main entrance of Sobha Singh house opens on the main
Janpath, has been used by Hungary Cultural Centre for the last many,many years.
Old timers say that it has seen several parties and get-togethers when Sobha Singh used to stay here with his family. Right from mid 30s till his demise in 1988, 1-A Janpath was the abode of Sobha Singh. The lavish reception that he hosted after the marriage of his lawyer turned journalist/writer son Khushwant Singh was legendary. It was part of the folklore of Delhi. The best possible liquor and sumptuous food was served to over 1200 guests. Among others, M.A.Jinnah also came and attended the reception party. Jinnah was living in a mansion bang outside Sobha Singh’s house at 10, Aurangjeb Road.
Bhopal Singh,75, has joined the staff of Sobha Singh way back in 1952, 59 years ago. Says Bhopal, “ Sardar Sahib was a very gracious and kind hearted man. He always ensured that his staff does not face any hardship.  Till mid sixties, his all sons used to live here. Later,
they shifted to Sujan Singh Park. But he did not leave this place and
lived with his wife.”
Noted historian and veteran journalist  of Delhi,R.V.Smith says , “ As
New Delhi is celebrating 100 years of its existence, it would be
befitting if the local authorities put a plaque outside the house of
Sobha Singh. It is not another house. Sardar Sobha Singh has yeoman
service for the development of Delhi. Echoing these thoughts, Nuzhat
Alim, director of ILD developers, rues the fact that not much
attention is given to preserving important buildings in our country. “
When it comes to preserving buildings, we only think of buildings of
mughal times. We should think ahead now. If we can not take care of
the house of builder of New Delhi, then we should not talk about
preserving buildings.” But, Prof. Ajay Monga of department of
architecture, Deen Bandhu Chotu Ram University,Murthal(Sonepat) has another  take on the issue of preserving old and important buildings.
According to him,only INTACH and ASI are working on this direction.
And they have their own limitations. Unless general public would not
be aware of important buildings of their area, nobody can maintain
such buildings.
When Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India, announced the plan to move
the British capital to Delhi was along with the Coronation Durbar for
King George V and the Queen Mary, would take place in Delhi in
December 1911, Sujan Singh and 22-year old Sobha Singh, who was then a
contractor working on the Kalka-Shimla railroad, shifted base to Delhi
as building contractors.
For the South Block and War Memorial Arch (now India Gate), Sobha
Singh was the sole builder. He also constructed the Chelmsford Club,
A.I.F.A.C.’s Hall, All India Radio,the National Museum, T.B.Hospital,
Red Cross Buildings and Baroda House. Sobha Singh also became the
first lndian president of the New Delhi Municipal Council and held the
post four times, in 1938, 1942, and 1945-46.
Many-many years ago venerable freedom fighter Aruna Asaf Ali told
yours truly when she used to sit at now defunct The Patriot office in
Bhadurshah Zafar Marg that when police was after her in the wake of
Quit India movement in 1942 as she was very active in it, she one day approached Khushwant Singh at his Janpath home for one night shelter.
He flatly refused on the ground that he can not help her cause as the
house belongs to his father.
According to Davinder Gupta, cmd of realty advisory Century 21 India,the current market cost of 1-a Janpath would not be less than whopping Rs 400 crores. It is situated on the best possible location of the capital. It can even fetch more.

It is learnt that Sobha Singh trust
gets yearly rent of paltry Rs 15 lakh from their present tenets.
On the issue of preserving important buildings like Sobha Singh house as heritage property or atleast putting a plaque outside it, R.V.Smith said  “there is complete apathy and callous attitude prevailing among all those who can and should make some path-breaking decision on this matter. It is high time that they wake up from slumber.