Make a change.

And at People-India, it is our endeavour to bring back and reclaim this very lost charm of this historical, trade-zone, cultural and culinary plethora.

Let’s take you through the history, current scenario and our vision of Chandni Chowk!

[ What was ]

Have you heard of Jahanara Begum? Perhaps not! Because even though she was deemed one of the most pivotal women of medieval India, her tales remain unsung in the pages of history. She was the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Jahanara Begum was a writer, poet, painter, architect, engineer and the one who conceived the thought and design of what we know today as Chandni Chowk.

Her exquisite and peerless library boasted of rare and beautiful books. She was an ardent supporter of Sufism and a generous philanthropist, who especially funded Sufi Dargahs. She authored many books, including the biography of Ajmer’s Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, displaying her flair for prose. Jahanara, princess of the princesses ; lived a rather unconventional life, and also owned a ship and traded as an independent entity. Her soulful mind gave birth to many architectural gems like mosques, shelters, inns, bazaars and gardens to the cityscapes of Mughal India.

A celebrated creation of her’s being ‘Caravanserai’ built within the walls of the capital city of Shahjahanabad that formed the bazaar area today known as Chandni Chowk.

The original market was divided into four parts: Urdu Bazaar, Johri Bazar, Ashrafi Bazaar, and the Fatehpuri Bazar. Frequented by merchants from across Asia and Europe, Chandni Chowk then had an illusionary effect of the reflection of the moon on the Yamuna river tributary that flowed through the centre of the bazaar.

“The chowk was an octagon with sides of one hundred yards and a large pool in its center. To the north, Jahanara built a Caravansarai (roadside inn) and a garden and, to the south, a bath. On certain nights the moonlight reflected pale and silvery from the central pool and gave to the area the name Chandni Chowk (Silver or Moonlight Square). This name slowly displaced all others until the entire bazaar, from the Lahori Gate to the Fatehpuri Masjid, became known as Chandni Chowk,” writes Stephen Blake in his book Shahjahanabad: The sovereign city in Mughal India.

[ What is ]

Today as one strolls intrigued among the labyrinth lanes of Chandni Chowk, one ponders in wonder at the intricate art walls that narrate untold fables of the past. Deemed to be one of the largest wholesale markets of Asia, it surprises you at every corner with its F&B hole-in-the-wall joints or age-old business establishments.

But somewhere, a grace is absent! Jahanara Begum’s novel dream of this citadel esplanade remains unfulfilled as the streets are dotted with litter, malice and a callous approach.

Time, however, has not been kind to Chandni Chowk. The marketplace has been largely unable to cope with its multitude of changes, prominent among them being the ailing condition of traffic movement in the area, even with the underground metro system being functional for more than 15 years now, unplanned drainage systems and messy electrical cables hanging overhead. The bustling market place of the 17th century has been forgotten and neglected.

The attractiveness of this area that would enchant as a fine bauble to the beholder rests today as a maze that cries of help to be restored. Well, not only are the localities hollering at each other, but the unorganized ecosystem of this treasure of a place cries for help.

|What we envision it as|

We aspire to pay homage to Jahanara Begum with the respect she deserves. (Jahanara, the princess of princesses passed away in 1681.  Just eight kilometers away from Chandni Chawk, at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, she rests, unknown and hardly visited by anybody, in a tiny open grave.)

• We aim to organize it as a structured and flourishing commercial and tourist hub.

• Reconstruct and repair the decaying fragments of it.

• Prepare a planned neighbourhood for its residents and visitors.

• A neighbourhood for us to take pride in and flaunt.

• To get rid of overhead electricity and telephone cables (a similar feat has been achieved in Varanasi), fix overflowing drainage pipes.

• Install and maintain proper traffic management systems and put proper waste disposal systems in place.

The government has already mulled versions of this plan and made the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Plan. However, the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Plan never materialized for several reasons. One of the reported reasons is the traders’ association’s pushback on moderating traffic inflow into Chandni Chowk. However, several sources also cite that the primary reason for the conflict is that their opinions were not considered during the planning stage.

• We plan to take into prime consideration all the factors that impeded the previous plans.

• Scout and fix the loopholes that prevented Chandni Chowk from getting the much deserved and long due makeover to a::

fancy and looked-upto oasis of love, laughter, retail, nature, dining, heritage and culture wrapped in grace.

It may sound like a big steep challenge to take part in, but let us spill the beans...that difficult perhaps but this is surely not impossible. Many communities around the world have been rebuilt and revived their architectural sites such as ‘Chandni Chowk’ in honour of the goodness in their past. The monuments that represent the history of such communities are now considered as the world’s most revered destinations where people go in search of peace and tranquility. One such example is Madrid in Spain.

The Plaza Mayor, a major public space in the heart of Madrid, the capital of Spain, was once the center of Old Madrid. First built in 1619. The place offers an intersection of positive energies from the past and the future. Everyday people from all over the world celebrate the grandeur, magnificence and the history of Spain at the Plaza Mayor. The energy of this place revitalizes your mind, body and soul. It is an offering from the past so beautifully and respectfully accepted and preserved for the future.

History of Plaza Mayor – something to learn from here

Plaza Mayor was originally called the "Plaza del Arrabal" and was used as the main market of the town. The Plaza Mayor has suffered 3 major fires in its history but each time it has been reconstructed.

There are several other examples like Plaza Mayor that inspire us to revive the goodness of Chandini Chowk.

The process:

The revival process will involve collaboration and cooperation. For this, we need leaders in their fields to unite. Magical communicators, world builders, historians, architects, artists, engineers, traders, business leaders, politicians and religious leaders, men, women, young and old alike.

At PEOPLE-India, we will connect the dots between the collaborators and build a platform for cooperation to achieve this.  Our main role will be to ensure that there is no hindrance to this peaceful project. We request all of you to participate.

First step and milestone:

To begin with we have identified a Mumbai based architect named Abha Narain Lambah. We would like her to be a mentor and chief architect for the revival of Chandni Chowk project. Amongst other things, she is known for reviving the Crawford market in Mumbai. She grew up in Delhi and feels a strong bond with this place.  We believe that she is the right fit for this project.

We propose that Abha along with a group of 9 researchers take the steps necessary to put together a detailed action plan for the revival of Chandini Chowk. We will be part of the research group and will ensure that the action plan is successful.

Estimated cost for the First Milestone:

The first milestone estimated cost includes the fee that needs to be paid to the proposed chief architect Abha Narain Lambah and a team of world-class researchers who will take this revival story ahead by laying down a detailed action plan. This milestone will also include the execution of written collaboration agreements between all key participants and collaborators. Our cost estimate to achieve this first milestone is Rs. 10, 000, 000 (Rupees One Crore only). This cost may increase based on actuals. We will share details of all outgoings with the clients of this service of reviving Chandini Chowk.

Will you help us unfold this story of the revival of beautiful and magnificent Chandini Chowk?