Ramlila Maidan's iconic legacy: Queen Elizabeth II, 'Ae mere watan ke logon' to 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'

Today, Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan became the venue for the grand swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Over the years, this ground has been an integral part of Delhi’s rich cultural history. Serving as a historic stage, Ramlila Maidan has been a symbol of change. Historians says that the area near Ajmeri Gate once had a large pond. Spanning 10 acres, the Maidan was home to several settlements. Sometime in the late 19th century, Hindu soldiers of the Mughal Army decided to stage Ramleela performances on these grounds.

The fame of the Ramleela near Ajmeri Gate reached Bahadur Shah Zafar, who then ordered the procession route to be altered so that he could also view the performance. Historian Narayani Gupta told The Indian Express that by 1876, staging Ramleelas at the grounds near Ajmeri Gate had become an annual tradition. The jhanki (procession) used to pass through Ajmeri Gate and Chandni Chowk, Gupta added. Patronised by the Khatri community, Ramleela celebrations at the grounds became a significant part of Delhi’s calendar, and despite British rule, this cultural tradition remained unchanged.

From a festival venue, Ramlila Maidan evolved into a central location for major historical events. During India’s freedom struggle, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel addressed massive rallies here.

By the 1950s, Ramlila Maidan had become a prominent venue for hosting global dignitaries. From Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin in 1955 to then US President Dwight Eisenhower in 1959 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, the Maidan witnessed several high-profile gatherings.

Two years later, after India’s defeat in the 1962 Indo-China War, Lata Mangeshkar performed her iconic song Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon at the 1963 Republic Day event hosted at Ramlila Maidan. In 1965, then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered his historic Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan slogan during his Independence Day speech here.

In contemporary India, Ramlila Maidan remained part of the political narrative. It was this ground that saw Jai Prakash Narayan’s massive rally against Indira Gandhi’s decision to impose Emergency. Interestingly, Anna Hazare’s anti-graft movement also began here, which gave birth to Aam Aadmi Party. The Ramleelas organised here and next to Red Fort are the biggest in India, which are often have seen participation by Prime Ministers and Presidents.