Shimla, May 28 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Thursday that the Queen of Hills, as Shimla was fondly called by the British colonial rulers, has witnessed the most ups and downs in its journey.
“The town has its own significance and distinct identity throughout the world. It witnessed most ups and downs in its journey from being the summer capital of British India to be a ground for freedom struggles before country’s independence,” he said at a function here to mark the completion of 200 years of the deputy commissioner office.
The chief minister said history and traditional heritage “are part of our lives”.
Recollecting his memories, octogenarian Virbhadra Singh said as a child he had seen people working hard like the postmen as they have to carry on their work irrespective of vagaries of weather.
He said every town has its own historical importance. Himachal had very rich traditions and customs.
“The government is always committed to restore and renovate the old historical buildings of Shimla and elsewhere in the state.”
He said the Shimla Municipal Corporation office, which was a live example of British architect, is being renovated to give it a new look while maintaining its traditional architect.
The chief minister released a book titled “The Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Two Centuries of an Institution — 1815-2015,” containing long cherished administrative history of the office.
The 160-page book unfolds various aspects of the administrative history of Shimla. It contains articles by 20 personalities and complied by writer Raja Bhasin.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office set up in 1815 was then known as the “Office of Assistant to Governor General”.
Before Independence, it was renamed — “Office of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Hill States”. The book gives an insight into the history of Shimla, its heritage buildings, administrative set-up, memoirs of authors and growth.
Known as “Simla” earlier, the tourist destination remained the summer capital of British India and undivided Punjab. It was transferred to Himachal Pradesh on November 1, 1966.
The town witnessed Indo-Pak summit in 1972, Partition of India, Treaty on McMohan line (1914) and many events that changed the course of history.