Delhi Guide Map – 1969 – Published Under The Direction Of Brigadier Jamshed Dalal – Surveyor General Of India

Surveyor General: Brigadier Jamshed Dalal
Publisher: The Survey Of India, Calcutta
Price: £400
Publication Date: 1969
Edition: Second edition
Format: Colour printed
Condition: Good condition
Sheet Size: 153.4cm x 105.8cm
Scale: 1:20000

Condition:

The second edition of the new Survey of India Delhi Guide map. Sheet Size: 153.4cm x 105.8cm. Scale: 1:20000. Condition: Original pictorial wrappers. Original fold lines into 42 sections. Map generally clean with some age-toning due to the paper stock. Wear to the fold intersections with a some closed tears which could be repaired archivally. Reverse is blank. Wrappers a little chipped, dusty and creased. In original and unrestored condition. In good condition overall. Scarce.

Location: BR: 002715

Delhi in 1969: A Short Description

In 1969, Delhi stood at a pivotal juncture in its long and layered history. The city, once the heart of empires and colonial rule, was by this time a growing post-colonial capital—both politically symbolic and materially transforming.

Political Landscape

India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was navigating a turbulent political climate. In Delhi, the tremors of national upheaval were felt keenly. The Indian National Congress, long the dominant political force, was undergoing a dramatic split. The division between the old guard—labelled the “Syndicate”—and the younger, more assertive Indira Gandhi created fissures that were reflected in Delhi’s political discussions, party offices, and public rallies.

Delhi, being the seat of power, became the epicentre of this internal party conflict. Parliament debates grew more polarised, and the press, based heavily in the city, buzzed with speculation and commentary. The Congress split formally later that year, with Indira Gandhi leading a faction that would ultimately reshape Indian politics. Though not a mass uprising, the political changes in 1969 were profound and deeply tied to the capital’s rhythm.

Urban Development and Architecture

By 1969, Delhi had already undergone significant transformation since Independence in 1947. The city had absorbed a massive influx of refugees from Pakistan following Partition, and refugee colonies such as Lajpat Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, and Patel Nagar were now established and bustling. Many of these neighbourhoods had matured, their streets lined with modest yet permanent homes, local markets, and a sense of rootedness among displaced populations.

The architectural vocabulary of Delhi in this period was a curious blend. On one hand stood the solemn Lutyens’ bungalows and broad boulevards of New Delhi—remnants of British imperial ambitions. On the other were the new government buildings, housing colonies, and institutional structures that embraced modernist principles: functional, concrete, and often stark. Pragati Maidan and the surrounding exhibition grounds were in development, foreshadowing India’s push towards international trade and industrial showcases.

Cultural Life

Culturally, Delhi in 1969 was vibrant, if still deeply traditional in parts. The India International Centre had become a hub for intellectuals, writers, and diplomats. Concerts, poetry readings, and art exhibitions were increasingly common, especially among the educated elite. Hindi cinema was dominant, and while Bombay was the production hub, Delhi audiences were enthusiastic and discerning. Film posters adorned the walls of Connaught Place, and cinema halls like Regal and Plaza saw long queues for the latest releases.

At the same time, Delhi retained its classical music traditions. Mehfils and concerts of Hindustani music were still hosted in private homes and auditoriums. Urdu poetry and mushairas flourished, particularly in the older quarters of the city such as Ballimaran and Darya Ganj.

Social Structure and Daily Life

Delhi in 1969 was a city of contrasts. While the upper echelons of society moved in government and diplomatic circles, much of the city functioned through informal labour, domestic work, small trade, and markets. The class divide was visible in neighbourhoods and transport—rickshaws, scooters, and Ambassador cars shared roads with bullock carts and hand-pulled thelas.

Electricity and water supply were not consistent across the city, and planned development often lagged behind population growth. Yet, there was a certain optimism. The Green Revolution had begun to change rural India, and Delhi saw its effects indirectly—through trade, policy, and conversation.

Education and Youth

The University of Delhi was a growing intellectual force. Campuses such as St. Stephen’s, Hindu College, and Miranda House fostered a new generation of students who were politically aware and culturally engaged. Student protests, though not as explosive as in other parts of the world, were not uncommon. Issues ranged from university reforms to broader questions of social justice and foreign policy.

Young people in Delhi in 1969 were increasingly influenced by global movements—student protests in Paris, the civil rights movement in America, and the counterculture revolution were discussed, albeit in elite circles. Indian youth began experimenting with fashion, music, and ideas, all while navigating the structures of a conservative society.

Old Delhi and Continuity

Meanwhile, the lanes of Old Delhi retained their own rhythm. Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, and Jama Masjid continued to pulse with commerce and daily life, largely unchanged in appearance but subtly shifting in atmosphere. Small-scale industries, spice markets, and bookshops thrived, and old traditions of food, faith, and family continued unabated.

Despite all the change, there was a sense of continuity in the city’s deeper rhythms—prayers at dawn, markets at noon, and quiet reflections in Mughal gardens as evening fell.

Delhi in 1969 was neither wholly modern nor trapped in the past. It was a city in flux, holding the weight of its imperial legacy while straining forward towards a future it was still trying to define. The scent of change lingered in the air—political, cultural, and social—and the capital bore witness to the contradictions of a young republic growing into itself.

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