Builder of Lutyens’ Delhi: Sir Sobha Singh

Sardar Bahadur Sir Sobha Singh was the father of well-known Indian writer Khushwant Singh. He was a civil contractor and leading builder of Lutyens’ Delhi and real estate owner of Delhi. He was born in a small village lura Hadalji in Khushab, Shahpur District which was a part of British India (now in Pakistan).

He was born in 1890. Sobha Singh joined his father’s business of civil construction after attending school for few years in Amritsar. The 22 year old Sobha Singh shifted his base to Delhi as building contractors when Hardinge, the Viceroy of India, announced the plan to shift to British Indian capital city. After the shifting, building contracts were given out and Sobha Singh became the senior-grade contractor. After the Coronation Durbar, plans for new city were made immediately.

King and Queen laid the foundation stones. Sir Sobha was the sole builder for the South Block and War Memorial Arch (now India Gate). He has also worked on some parts of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Vijay Chowk.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: en.wikipedia.org