Explanations:The decision to shift India's capital from Calcutta to Delhi was a significant event in the history of British India. This decision was announced by King George V at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. The Delhi Durbar was a grand ceremony held to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India. The Durbar was a major event in the British colonial administration, and it was chosen as the occasion to announce the capital shift.
The decision to move the capital from Calcutta to Delhi was part of a broader strategy by the British to centralize their administration and reduce the influence of the nationalist movement in Calcutta. Calcutta, being the capital of British India, had become a center of nationalist activities and protests against British rule. By shifting the capital to Delhi, the British aimed to distance themselves from the nationalist movement and to establish a new administrative center that would be more central to the Indian subcontinent.
The announcement of the capital shift was made during the Delhi Durbar in 1911, and the actual transfer of the capital to Delhi was completed in 1912. The new capital was designed to be a symbol of British power and to reflect the grandeur of the British Empire. The construction of the new capital, which included the building of the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) and other government buildings, took several years to complete.
Understanding the historical context of the capital shift is important for comprehending the political and administrative strategies of the British in India. The decision to move the capital was not just a logistical change but also a strategic move to consolidate British control over the Indian subcontinent. The year 1911 is significant in Indian history as it marks the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between the British and the Indian people, and it is often remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of British India.