The Soral and the Grid (Page 1)

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Punjab University like the city of Chandigarh was born out of the massacres, tragedies and hopes that attended partition, and the creation of Pakistan by splitting up the state of Punjab. The uprooted humanity passed through a phase of chaos and destruction as millions of refugees fled in both directions. Every human value was thrown away in the backdrop of great violence washed with the blood of innocent people. No morality and no religion, there was Confusion all around and uncertainty as to what to do, what to think, and what part to play.

Soon thereafter, everyone was trying to come to terms with this great tragedy looking for a life that was without fear; orderly, harmonious, peaceful and stable that would erase from the memory the gory events that one had to pass

through in the wake of partition. Lahore, the old capital of Punjab state was now in Pakistan, and a new capital of East Punjab was needed to run the affairs of the State and also a new city was required to rehabilitate people who were thus left homeless. Similarly, Punjab University that was established in Lahore in 1882 was also split up and its resources were divided into tow parts. Now a new home for this divided half was urgently required in the east Punjab. So, the state was looking for its new Capital and the university a new home to cater to the academic needs of thousands of its students, faculty and staff from pre-partition days. In these Circumstances, Chandigarh was born and a modern city representing a new style of architecture appeared on the Indian horizon. And it is here finally in Chandigarh, that Punjab University took the anchor after floating around and temporarily running its business from different centres after the partition.

A bold statement of order embodying the idea of a beneficent but stabilising state, in the form of a new city, was a virtual demand of the time that could convey the Spirit of resurgent India as Pandit Nehru spoke of Chandigarh as "reaching beyond the existing encumbrances of old towns and old traditions' and as 'the first large expression of our creative genius, founded on our newly earned freedom'. Resemblances are apparent between the architecture of Chandigarh and Le Corbusier's Contemporary European projects. The plan of the city in many respects followed "...old

(Continues...)

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