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 a few years in Amritsar. The 22 year old Sobha Singh shifted his base to Delhi as a building contractor when Hardinge, the Viceroy of India, announced the plan to shift to the 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 a 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.

                                                                   FAQ

What was the role of Khushwant Singh's father in building Delhi?

As a well-known contractor, Khushwant Singh's father, Sir Sobha Singh, was instrumental in the construction of New Delhi. He played a key role in forming the architectural landscape of the capital by working on large-scale construction projects like Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate

Who was Sir Sobha Singh?

As the father of author Khushwant Singh, Sir Sobha Singh was a well-known Indian builder and contractor. The British gave him the title "Sir" in recognition of his significant contribution to the construction of India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan, two of New Delhi's most notable structures.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: en.wikipedia.org