After 27 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the government in Delhi. The swearing-in ceremony for Delhi's next Chief Minister is scheduled for February 20th at 4:30 PM at the Ramlila Ground. This victory comes after defeating the Aam Aadmi Party, which held power for over a decade. However, the exact name of the new Chief Minister has not yet been finalized. The Ramlila Ground was notably the birthplace of the Anna Movement in 2011, led by Anna Hazare, with figures like Arvind Kejriwal also playing significant roles. Following this movement, Arvind Kejriwal established the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi.
Witness to Empires: From Mughals to Britons
The Ramlila Ground in Delhi is more than a site of protests; it boasts a history spanning 150 years. Once known as a settlement's pond, this ground has observed eras from the Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar to British rule, and figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Jayaprakash Narayan. It has witnessed India's freedom movement, the establishment of democracy, and rallies of various former prime ministers.
Situated in the Ajmeri Gate area, the Ramlila Ground was once bordered by residential areas and was merely a pond. As such, it was dubbed 'Settlement's Pond'. Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar's army included a significant number of Hindu soldiers. In 1845, a large portion of the field was leveled, making way for the performances of Ram Lila. Subsequently, it became known as the Ramlila Ground. Later, around 1880, British soldiers erected tents here for relaxation after duty.
Source: aajtak
Stage for Iconic Rituals
As Delhi's open space reduced over time with the rise of large buildings, Ramlila Ground's importance was such that Bahadur Shah Zafar altered his procession route to admire it. Post-British rule, the tradition of Ramlila performances resumed and continues to date.
In 1961, even Queen Elizabeth of Britain visited the Ramlila Ground. Remarkably, in 1945, the crowd at this ground honored Pakistan's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, with the title of Maulana. Furthermore, prominent freedom fighters like Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel kindled the flame of independence from here. In 1952, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee led a protest here concerning the Kashmir issue. After Pakistan's defeat in the 1965 war, then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri addressed a grand gathering at this venue.
Source: aajtak
A Witness to Kejriwal's Oaths
During the Emergency in 1975, Jayaprakash Narayan voiced opposition against the Congress government from the Ramlila Ground. Ramdhari Dinkar's renowned poem, 'Empty the Throne for the People...', echoed here too. In 2011, under Anna Hazare's leadership, a significant anti-corruption movement occurred at this ground, significantly contributing to the fall of the UPA-2 government.
Post-Anna Movement, Arvind Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party, which ruled Delhi for ten years. The same movement paved the way for BJP's landslide victory in the 2014 general elections, leading to Narendra Modi's first tenure as the Prime Minister. The Congress suffered a substantial loss, securing only 44 seats.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took oath at the Ramlila Ground. Now, this venue will also witness the end of AAP's rule in Delhi, with the BJP's upcoming swearing-in ceremony for the next Chief Minister set for February 20th.
