Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat,
also called Haryana Legislative Assembly Secretariat is one of the most
magnificent buildings in the city beautiful. The Vidhan Bhawan building
is common for both the Haryana and the Punjab State Legislative
Assemblies. Haryana emerged to be a separate State on the map of India on
November 1, 1966. Right from the times of the British Raj till the
partition of the country in 1947, and thereafter, since its bifurcation from
the erst-while Punjab State in 1966, it has remained the citadel of democracy
and more so the hub of politics in the country. Haryana also enjoys the
privilege of being a nucleus of ancient civilization and culture of India. It
is the land of sages and seers, where Vedas were composed and immortal message
of the Gita was wraught.
This
building spells the visitors with its unique modern art and architecture
personally designed and supervised by the world renowned French Architect,
Mons. Le Corbusier, whose services were engaged by Indian Government to design
the city of Chandigarh on modern lines of architecture and structure. With the
beauty of the city, the dream of the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal
Nehru and the then Chief Minister (Joint Punjab) Sardar Partap Singh Kairon was
realized.
The
structure of the Vidhan Bhawan, as visualized by the Le Corbusier, presents a
physical expression of the law making body. Situated in a commanding position,
on one side it is flanked by the High Court, the law interpreting body, and on
the other, the Civil Secretariat, the law executing authority. Before the
Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, this building housed the Legislative Assembly
and the Legislative Council of Joint Punjab (Punjab, Haryana and Himachal) and
Punjabi and Hindi Regional Committees, alongwith Library, Committees of the
House, the Legislative Secretariat and a Cafeteria. During the Re-organization
of the Punjab State in 1966, Himachal was made a separate State with its
Capital at Shimla while Haryana and Punjab had to keep their Capital at
Chandigarh which was declared as Union Territory. Under the Re-organization,
the buildings of Vidhan Bhawan and Civil Secretariat were made common.
Haryana
Vidhan Sabha shares this building with its counterpart, Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The Chamber earlier used by the Punjab Legislative Council is now Chamber of
the Haryana Legislative Assembly. In the South-East of the hyperbolic shell
above, there appears a pyramid shaped roof, it is the Chamber of the Haryana
Legislative Assembly. At present, the South wing of the building is with
Haryana Legislative Assembly which includes a space for 16 branches of Haryana
Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, the Office of the Hon’ble Speaker, Hon'ble Chief
Minister, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Secretary, Committee Rooms, Library and
a Lounge for Members.
Chamber: This fascinating building is characterized
by some wonderous architectural designs, ranging from pyramid roof, projecting
giant lamp posts, tall columns supporting flat slabs to various odd and
fantastic shapes in reinforced concrete. The building has a central tower of
120 feet height, with a base diameter of 130 feet which goes on lessening with
the height, in the form of a hyperbolic shell. This peculiar shape makes
possible for such a big hall to be supported without any columns. The
roof-diameters is about 70 feet which slopes towards South-East. The building
is square in shape with spacious rooms at North, West and South, Haryana
Assembly Chamber and a grand big gate at East and an open towering roof
supported by pillars in the middle. It has two Assembly Halls viz Punjab
Legislative Assembly and the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The
Punjab Assembly Hall flourishes in the Center, while the Haryana
Legislative Assembly Hall pokes its head in pyramid shape at South-East part of
the building. The sitting capacity in Haryana Assembly Hall is 90.
The Hall in the Centre
is flanked by V.I.P.s gallery, Visitors gallery and Speaker’s gallery and
overhead Press gallery and Officer’s Gallery add the grandeur of this small
hall. While the interior part touches the mind with its marvelous and well
planned construction, its exterior part cheers the heart with its panoramic
picture of ship stucked hyperbolic shell and pyramid shaped construction. This
is, in fact, the first structure at Chandigarh which has been designed with
seismic consideration. To
maintain Assembly Hall at a temperature of 78oF during summer
and 68o F during winter with relative humidity of 50%, a center
air-conditioning plant working on reverse cycle system, has been installed on
the ground floor near the Library of Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
The
Chamber is fitted with most modern system of sound equipment which works on low
level microphones, thereby avoiding all loud noises in the Hall.
The
building is approachable from three sides. While the Ceremonial Entrance faces
the High Court, the General Entrance is in front of the Secretariat. The
Ceremonial Entrance is used when the Governor leads the procession to address
the members of the Vidhan Sabha during Session times. The main entrance of the
Ceremonial Gate is 25 feet square, and contains a pivoting enameled door,
fabricated in France as per design of Le Corbusier. It was presented as a gift
by the French Govt.
The
Speaker and the Ministers ordinarily arrive from the front wing. Indeed,
the building housing Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha presents a
spectacular look, both from within and outside.