117-596: The Simla Conference of 1945 was a meeting between the Viceroy of India , Lord Wavell and the major political leaders of British India at the Viceregal Lodge in Simla . When it was clear that British intended to leave India, they desperately needed an agreement on what should happen when they leave. Talks stalled on the issue of the selection of Muslim representatives. The All-India Muslim League claimed to be
234-548: A big bazaar was established in the town. The Indian businessmen, mainly from Sood and Parsi communities, arrived in the area to cater to the needs of the growing European population. On 9 September 1844, the foundation of the Christ Church was laid. Subsequently, several roads were widened and the construction of the Hindustan-Tibet road with a 560-feet tunnel was taken up in 1851–52. This tunnel, now known as
351-648: A broadcast speech delivered from Delhi. The plan, commonly known as the Wavell Plan, proposed the following: 1. The Viceroy’s Executive Council would be immediately reconstituted and the number of its members would be increased. 2. In the Council there would be equal representation of high-caste Hindus and Muslims. 3. All the members of the Council, except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief, would be Indians. 4. An Indian would be appointed as
468-777: A fakir is situated to give water to the travellers". In 1819, Lieutenant Ross, the Assistant Political Agent in the Hill States , set up a wood cottage in Shimla. Three years later, his successor and the Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the first pucca house in the area named Kennedy Cottage in 1822, near Annadale , what is now the home for CPWD office. The accounts of the Britain-like climate started attracting several British officers to
585-447: A half hours of secret discussion but Gandhi later with C. R. called it a "test of my patience and nothing else and I am amazed at my own patience". Their second meeting proved no more fruitful than the first, Jinnah sensed by this time the futility of the talks. Then there was a session of written correspondence on 11, 12, 13 and 14 September, and on 24, 25 and 26 September 1944, but nothing came out of it. Gandhi by now believed that "Jinnah
702-573: A letter to Colonel Churchill, he wrote: Shimla is only four days march from Loodianah ( Ludhiana ), is easy to access, and proves a very agreeable refuge from the burning plains of Hindoostaun ( Hindustan ). Combermere's successor Earl Dalhousie visited Shimla in the same year. After this, the town was under Nawab (King) Kumar Ghosal of Bally, West Bengal, and saw regular visits from the Governors-General and Commanders-in-Chief of British India. Several young British officers started visiting
819-607: A list before consulting the Muslim League's working committee. The conference was adjourned till 14 July, meanwhile Wavell met with Jinnah on 8 July and tried to convince him as Jinnah was determined to nominate all the proposed Muslim members from the Muslim League as he considered the Congress' Muslim representatives to be "show boys". Wavell gave him a letter that was placed in front of the Muslim League's Working Committee on 9 July. Jinnah replied after careful consideration of
936-440: A personal challenge to bring together the two parties. He had plans in mind and was willing to use his influence and power to settle the communal deadlock. He would try to bring some moderate Indian leaders to a settlement by calling them to Simla (India's summer capital). His list included as he told to Amery, "Gandhi and one "other" of the Congress party, Jinnah and one other member of the Muslim League, Dr. Ambedkar to represent
1053-551: A surgical operation", Nehru noted after considering Wavell's idea, "We have to get rid of our preoccupation with a petty problem" as he considered the demand for Pakistan a petty problem. Jinnah accepted the invitation but only if he could meet with Wavell alone first on 24 June. One day before the conference was convened on 24 June, Wavell met with Abul Kalam Azad , Gandhi and Jinnah to assess their approach. He noted in his diary, "Gandhi & Jinnah are behaving like very temperamental prima donnas". Lord Wavell officially opened
1170-456: A united India as that would be much more beneficial for all because it would be a stronger nation at an international level. Jinnah argued that "Indian unity was only a British creation". Bengal's governor Richard Casey was well informed about Congress-League relations and he wrote to Wavell saying: "Congress is basically responsible for the growth of the Pakistan idea, by the way they treated
1287-612: A viceroy who was already a peer would be granted a peerage of higher rank, as with the granting of a marquessate to Lord Reading and an earldom and later a marquessate to Freeman Freeman-Thomas . Of those viceroys who were not peers, Sir John Shore was a baronet , and Lord William Bentinck was entitled to the courtesy title ' lord ' because he was the son of a duke . Only the first and last governors-general – Warren Hastings and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari – as well as some provisional governors-general, had no honorific titles at all. From around 1885,
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#17327757556211404-433: A year between Calcutta and this separate centre over 1,000 miles away, even though it was difficult to reach. Robert Bulwer-Lytton ( Viceroy of India 1876–1880) made efforts to plan the town from 1876, when he first stayed in a rented house, but began plans for a Viceregal Lodge , later built on Observatory Hill. A fire cleared much of the area where the native Indian population lived (the "Upper Bazaar" nowadays known as
1521-467: Is 16–45 years of age. A further 28% of the population is younger than 15 years. The low sex ratio – 930 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2001 – is cause for concern, and much lower than the 974 versus 1,000 for Himachal Pradesh state as a whole. The unemployment rate in the city has come down from 36% in 1992 to 22.6% in 2006. This drop is attributed to recent industrialisation, the growth of service industries, and knowledge development. Hindi
1638-550: Is Jakhoo and the southernmost location is Annadale, the easternmost point is Sanjauli and the western point is Chotta Shimla. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB Himalaya , which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has
1755-826: Is currently the effective boundary between China and India, although its legal status is disputed by the Chinese government. This was also the site of a series of talks held by Viceroy Wavell to discuss a plan for the independence of India with the Indian political leaders of the time. Known as the Simla Conference, the talks failed to bring about a resolution. Shimla was the capital city in exile of British Burma (present-day Myanmar ) from 1942 to 1945. The Kalka–Shimla railway line , opened in 1903, added to Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels,
1872-459: Is on the south-western ranges of the Himalayas at 31°37′N 77°06′E / 31.61°N 77.10°E / 31.61; 77.10 . It has an average altitude of 2,206 metres (7,238 ft) above mean sea level and extends along a ridge with seven spurs . The city stretches nearly 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) from east to west. The city is a Zone IV (High Damage Risk Zone) per
1989-405: Is situated 88 km (55 miles) northeast of Kalka , 116 km (72 miles) northeast of Chandigarh , 247 km (154 miles) south of Manali and 350 km (219 miles) northeast of Delhi , the national capital. Kalka can be reached within 2.5 hours, and Chandigarh can be reached in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Delhi and Manali are both around 7 hours away from Shimla. To the east of Shimla stand
2106-414: Is the lingua franca of the city, it is the principal spoken language of the city and also the most commonly used language for official purposes. English is also spoken by a sizeable population and is the second official language of the city. Other than Hindi, Pahari languages are spoken by the ethnic Pahari people, who form a major part of the population in the city. Punjabi language is prevalent among
2223-526: Is typically around 45 millimetres (1.8 in) per month during winter and spring, and around 190 millimetres (7.5 in) in June as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1,487 millimetres (59 in), which is much less than most other hill stations but still much heavier than on the plains. Snowfall in the region, which historically has taken place in December, has lately (over
2340-428: The 2023 North India floods . Highest recorded temperature: 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) on 28 May 2010 (A temperature of 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) was recorded on 22 May 2012 at Shimla airport . ) Lowest recorded temperature: −12.2 °C (10.0 °F) on 13 December 1963. Employment is largely driven by the government and tourism sectors. Education sector and horticultural produce processing comprise most of
2457-606: The Earthquake hazard zoning of India . Weak construction techniques and an increasing population pose a serious threat to the already earthquake prone region. There are no water bodies near the main city and the closest river, the Sutlej , is about 21 km (13 mi) away. Other rivers that flow through the Shimla district, although further from the city, are the Giri, and Pabbar (both tributaries of Yamuna ). The green belt in
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#17327757556212574-655: The Gaiety Theatre are reminders of British rule in India. The original Peterhoff , another Viceregal residence, burned down in 1981. British Shimla extended about a mile and a half along the ridge between Jakhoo Hill and Prospect Hill. The central spine was the Mall Road , which ran along the length of the Ridge, with a Mall Extension southwards, closed to all carriages except those of the viceroy and his wife. Shimla
2691-492: The Prime Minister of India . The agreement paved the way for diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan. Technically the document was signed at 0040 hours on the night of 3 July; despite this official documents are dated 2 July 1972. Pre-independence structures still dot Shimla; buildings such as the former Viceregal Lodge , Assembly Chamber, Auckland House , Christ Church , Gorton Castle, Shimla Town Hall and
2808-571: The Ridge ), and the planning of the eastern end to become the centre of the European town forced them to live in the Middle and Lower Bazaars on the lower terraces descending the steep slopes from the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was cleared for a town hall, with many facilities such as a library and theatre, as well as offices for police and military volunteers as well as municipal administration. During
2925-718: The Ridge ground , it goes to the Arabian Sea via the Sutej River , and if water is poured on the southern slope, it meets the Bay of Bengal through the Yamuna River. Shimla was built on top of seven hills: Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhu Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the Jakhu hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft). In recent times
3042-683: The Simla Deputation of 1906 , the Simla Accord of 1914 and the Simla Conference of 1945 . After independence, the state of Himachal Pradesh came into being in 1948 as a result of the integration of 28 princely states . Even after independence, the city remained an important political centre, hosting the Simla Agreement of 1972 . After the reorganisation of the state of Himachal Pradesh, the existing Mahasu district
3159-475: The emperor/empress of India and after Indian independence in 1947, the representative of the monarch of India . The office was created in 1773, with the title of governor-general of the Presidency of Fort William . The officer had direct control only over his presidency but supervised other East India Company officials in India. Complete authority over all of British territory in the Indian subcontinent
3276-474: The president of India . Throughout the British administration, governors-general retreated to the Viceregal Lodge (now Rashtrapati Niwas) at Shimla each summer to escape the heat, and the government of India moved with them. The Viceregal Lodge now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study . The Peterhoff building in Shimla was also used by several viceroys, although the original building
3393-533: The war cabinet proposed Field Marshal Wavell's name to his cabinet in mid-June 1943, as India's next Viceroy. General Sir Claude Auchinleck who had followed Wavell in his Middle Eastern command was to be the next Commander in Chief of the Indian army after Lord Wavell . In October 1943 the British Government decided to replace Lord Linlithgow with Lord Wavell as the Viceroy of India . Before assuming
3510-709: The "Aged Trinity" (Gandhi, Churchill and Jinnah ) continued to lead there was little chance of any political advance. Lord Wavell had a plan in mind and was eager to invite key leaders to a summit, but he was waiting for something to come out of the Gandhi-Jinnah meetings rescheduled on 9 September. C. Rajagopalachari presented a formula before that meeting accepting the Muslim right for a separate homeland. The talks began on 9 September 1944 at Jinnah's residence in Malabar Hill, Bombay where both leaders spent three and
3627-727: The "Depressed classes", Tara Singh to represent the Sikhs, M. N. Roy for labor representation, and some other to represent Non- Congress and Non-League Hindus and Muslims. After correspondence with Amery in October, Wavell decided to write to Churchill directly and he tried to convince Churchill in this regard though he was sure that Churchill was reluctant to hold or attend any summit as "he hated India and anything to do with it". Churchill informed Amery that he would not be able to see Wavell until March 1945, Wavell on his own behalf met with Jinnah on 6 December, and tried to convince him to live in
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3744-586: The "Hot Weather", Shimla was also the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, India , the head of the Indian Army , and many departments of the government . The summer capital of the regional Government of the Punjab moved from Murree , in modern-day Pakistan, to Shimla in 1876. They were joined by many of the British wives and daughters of the men who remained on the plains. Together these formed
3861-541: The Act, there were to be four members of the Council appointed by the Court of Directors. The first three members were permitted to participate on all occasions, but the fourth member was only allowed to sit and vote when legislation was being debated. In 1858, the Court of Directors ceased to have the power to appoint members of the council. Instead, the one member who had a vote only on legislative questions came to be appointed by
3978-607: The British acquired the surrounding land from the chiefs of Keonthal and Patiala in exchange for the Rawin pargana and a portion of the Bharauli pargana. The settlement grew rapidly after this, from 30 houses in 1830 to 1,141 houses in 1881. In 1832, Shimla saw its first political meeting between the Governor-General Lord William Bentinck and the emissaries of Maharaja Ranjit Singh . In
4095-479: The British monarch as sovereign successor to the Mughal emperors . From 1858, to reflect the governor-general's new additional role as the monarch's representative in response to the fealty relationships vis the princely states, the additional title of viceroy was granted, such that the new office was entitled "Viceroy and Governor-General of India". This was usually shortened to "Viceroy of India". The title of viceroy
4212-463: The Choor . The accompanying notes record that "During a considerable part of the year, the Choor is hoary with snow; and when moonlight falls upon the scene, an effect is produced as if floods of molten silver were poured over the surface. Moonlight in these regions assumes a novel charm." Shimla city is geographically uniquely positioned in such a way, that if water is poured on the northern slope at
4329-760: The Choor Mountains (Chuor, 3647m ). A passage over these mountains, from the Tons River to Shimla is described in Views in India, chiefly among the Himalaya Mountains , by George Francis White with accompanying drawings, Village of Khandoo, on the Ascent to the Choor , and two that were subsequently the subject of poetical illustrations by Letitia Elizabeth Landon , namely Crossing the Choor Mountains , and Village of Koghera and Deodar Forest, near
4446-601: The Council of State was appointed by the viceroy; the Legislative Assembly elected its president, but the election required the viceroy's approval. Until 1833, the title of the position was "governor-general of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal". The Government of India Act 1833 converted the title into "governor-general of India", effective from 22 April 1834. The title "viceroy and governor-general"
4563-527: The Dhalli Tunnel, was started by Major Briggs in 1850 and completed in the winter of 1851–52. The 1857 uprising caused a panic among the European residents of the town, but Shimla remained largely unaffected by the rebellion. In 1863, the Viceroy of India , John Lawrence , decided to shift the summer capital of the British Raj to Shimla. He took the trouble of moving the administration twice
4680-758: The Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged into the Himachal Pradesh on 1 April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954. Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India and the Lt. Governor was appointed. The legislative assembly
4797-724: The Indian National Congress was far less sympathetic to the Muslim League's requests despite Jinnah's approval of the British plan. On 14 June 1945 Lord Wavell announced a plan for a new Executive Council in which all members except the Viceroy and the Commander in Chief would be Indians. This executive council was to be a temporary measure until a new permanent constitution could be agreed upon and come into force. All portfolios except Defense would be held by Indian members. Prime Minister Winston Churchill as head of
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4914-617: The Indians as quickly as possible. The new government sent the Cabinet Mission to India and this proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the Wavell Plan. Governor-General of India The governor-general of India (1833 to 1950, from 1858 to 1947 the viceroy and governor-general of India , commonly shortened to viceroy of India ) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in their capacity as
5031-476: The Legislature's consent for "ecclesiastical, political [and] defence" purposes, and for any purpose during "emergencies." He was permitted to veto, or even stop debate on, any bill. If he recommended the passage of a bill, but only one chamber cooperated, he could declare the bill passed over the objections of the other chamber. The legislature had no authority over foreign affairs and defence. The president of
5148-548: The Muslims especially by refusing to allow them into the coalition provincial governments." Wavell agreed with everything Casey said about Pakistan, writing in his reply: "I do not believe that Pakistan will work." Churchill chaired his war cabinet that reviewed and rejected Wavell's proposal for constitutional reforms in India on 18 December. But Wavell was invited to visit England, and met with Churchill and Cabinet in May 1945. Wavell
5265-601: The National Academy of Audit and Accounts, Shimla. Students from across India prefer to study in Shimla because of its climate and Queen of Hill Stations status. These have added to the economy of the district as well as the state. The government is trying to promote the technology and IT sector as the new area for growth and promotion although not many companies have yet settled in Shimla. There are many new startups in and around Shimla. There are over six call centres in Shimla. The administrative responsibilities of
5382-607: The Shimla Society, which, according to Charles Allen , "was as close as British India ever came to having an upper crust." This may have been helped by the fact that it was very expensive, having an ideal climate and thus being desirable, as well as having limited accommodation. British soldiers, merchants, and civil servants moved here each year to escape from the heat during summer in the Indo-Gangetic plain . The presence of many bachelors and unattached men, as well as
5499-487: The Shimla planning area is spread over 414 hectares (1,020 acres). The main forests in and around the city are of Pine , Deodar , Oak and Rhododendron . Environmental degradation due to the increasing number of tourists every year without the infrastructure to support them has resulted in Shimla losing its popular appeal as an ecotourism spot. Another rising concern in the region are the frequent number of landslides that often take place after heavy rains. The city
5616-772: The Sovereign was in India. However, the only British sovereign to visit India during the period of British rule was George V , who attended the Delhi Durbar in 1911 with his wife, Mary . When the Order of the Star of India was founded in 1861, the viceroy was made its grand master ex officio . The viceroy was also made the ex officio grand master of the Order of the Indian Empire upon its foundation in 1877. Most governors-general and viceroys were peers . Frequently,
5733-743: The Working Committee: "I regret to inform you that you have failed to give assurance relating to the nomination of all Muslim members from Muslim League's platform so we are not able to submit a list." The Viceroy was equally resolved not to give at that point and wired to Amery at that night his own list of new council members. Four were to be Muslim League members ( Liaquat Ali Khan , Khawaja Nazimuddin , Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman and Eassak Sait ) and another Non-League Muslim Muhammad Nawaz Khan (a Punjabi landlord). The five 'Caste Hindus' had to be Jawaharlal Nehru , Vallabhbhai Patel , Rajendra Prasad , Madhav Shrihari Aney , B. N. Rau . Tara Singh
5850-563: The area during the hot Indian summers. By 1826, some officers had started spending their entire vacation in Shimla. In 1827, William Amherst , the Governor-General of Bengal , visited Shimla and stayed in the Kennedy House. A year later, Stapleton Cotton , the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in India, stayed at the same residence. During his stay, a three-mile road and a bridge were constructed near Jakhoo . In 1830,
5967-447: The area to socialise with the higher-ups; they were followed by ladies looking for marriage alliances for their relatives. Shimla thus became a hill station famous for balls, parties, and other festivities. Subsequently, residential schools for pupils from upper-class families were established nearby. By the late 1830s, the city also became a centre for theatre and art exhibitions. As the population increased, several bungalows were built and
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#17327757556216084-470: The capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi in 1912. Thereafter, the lieutenant governor of Bengal, who had hitherto resided in Belvedere House, was upgraded to a full governor and transferred to Government House. Now, it serves as the residence of the governor of the Indian state of West Bengal , and is referred to by its Bengali name Raj Bhavan . After the capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi,
6201-404: The central government, then similar councils of local political leaders would be formed in all the provinces. 8. None of the changes suggested would in any way prejudice or prejudge the essential form of the future permanent Constitution of India. To discuss these proposals with Indian leaders, Wavell summoned them to a conference in Simla on 25 June 1945. The Wavell Plan, in essence, proposed
6318-525: The city has spread past the initial seven hills. Shimla features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under the Köppen climate classification . The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters and moderately warm during summer. The average temperature during summer is between 16 and 25 °C (61 and 77 °F), and between 3 and 11 °C (37 and 52 °F) in winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 13.6 millimetres (0.54 in) in November and 350 millimetres (14 in) in August. It
6435-454: The city of Shimla and merged areas of Dhalli, Totu , and New Shimla reside with the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC). All three areas were taken under SMC in 2006–07. Established in 1851, the Shimla Municipal Corporation is an elected body comprising 41 councillors, three of whom are nominated by the government of Himachal Pradesh . The nominations are based on prominence in the fields of social service, academics, and other activities. 33% of
6552-413: The company, the British government assumed partial control over the governance of India with the passage of the Regulating Act of 1773 . A governor-general and Supreme Council of Bengal were appointed to rule over the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal . The first governor-general and Council were named in the Act. The Charter Act 1833 replaced the governor-general and Council of Fort William with
6669-428: The complete "Indianisation" of the Executive Council, but instead of asking all the parties to nominate members to the Executive Council from all the communities, seats were reserved for members on the basis of religion and caste, with the caste Hindus and Muslims being represented on it on the basis of parity. Even Mahatma Gandhi resented the use of the words "caste Hindus". While the plan proposed immediate changes to
6786-417: The composition of the Executive Council it did not contain any guarantee of Indian independence, nor did it contain any mention of a future constituent assembly or any proposals for the division of power between the various parties of India. Meanwhile, a general election had been held in the United Kingdom in July 1945 which had brought the Labour Party to power. The Labour party wanted to transfer power to
6903-583: The death of Gandhi in prison as before him Kasturba , his wife and Mahadev Desai , his private secretary died in the same prison in Pune Palace, Lord Linlithgow recommended to Churchill the immediate unconditional release of Gandhi. Churchill wrote back to Linlithgow, "it seems almost certain that the old rascal [Gandhi] will emerge all better for his so-called fast.'' Gandhi broke his fast on 3 March 1943. Gandhi suffered from malaria , and after that his health seriously deteriorated. The new Viceroy Archibald Wavell , recommended his unconditional release, Leo Amery
7020-456: The early nineteenth century, when Government House was constructed. In 1854, the lieutenant governor of Bengal took up residence there. Now, the Belvedere Estate houses the National Library of India . Lord Wellesley , who is reputed to have said that 'India should be governed from a palace , not from a country house ', constructed a grand mansion , known as Government House in Calcutta, between 1799 and 1803. The mansion remained in use until
7137-399: The enactment of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 by the Parliament. On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Thus Himachal emerged as the eighteenth state of the Indian Union. The Simla Agreement treaty was signed in Shimla by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto , the President of Pakistan , and Indira Gandhi ,
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#17327757556217254-543: The first governor general of India. After 1858, the governor-general (now usually known as the viceroy) functioned as the chief administrator of India and as the sovereign's representative. India was divided into numerous provinces , each under the head of a governor, lieutenant governor or chief commissioner or administrator . Governors were appointed by the British government , to whom they were directly responsible; lieutenant governors, chief commissioners, and administrators, however, were appointed by and were subordinate to
7371-503: The four armed police battalions in the state, is available for assistance to the local police. There are eleven courts in the district including a fast-track court. According to 2011 census, Shimla city spread over an area of 35.34 km had a population of 169,578 with 93,152 males and 76,426 females. Shimla urban agglomeration had a population of 171,817 as per provisional data of 2011 census, out of which males were 94,797 and females were 77,020. The effective literacy rate of city
7488-408: The goddess Kali . It is believed that a temple dedicated to goddess Shamli, an incarnation of Kali, used to be on the Jakhu hillside near the Rothney Castle . Many believe that during the British period , the image of the goddess was shifted to a new place, the now-famous Kali Bari Temple . In 2018, the state government decided to change the city's name from Shimla to Shyamala. However, seeing
7605-412: The governor-general and Council of India. The power to elect the governor-general was retained by the Court of Directors, but the choice became subject to the sovereign's approval via the India Board . After the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , the British East India Company's territories in India were put under the direct control of the sovereign. The Government of India Act 1858 vested the power to appoint
7722-410: The governor-general continued to have both an ordinary vote and a casting vote. In 1786, the power of the governor-general was increased even further, as Council decisions ceased to be binding. The Charter Act 1833 made further changes to the structure of the council. The Act was the first law to distinguish between the executive and legislative responsibilities of the governor-general. As provided under
7839-454: The governor-general in the sovereign. The governor-general, in turn, had the power to appoint all lieutenant governors in India, subject to the sovereign's approval. India and Pakistan acquired independence in 1947, but governors-general continued to be appointed over each nation until republican constitutions were written. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma , remained governor-general of India for ten months after independence, but
7956-400: The governor-general of India used a dark blue flag bearing the royal crest (a lion standing on the Crown), beneath which was the word 'India' in gold majuscules . The same design is still used by many other Commonwealth Realm governors-general. This last flag was the personal flag of the governor-general only. The governor-general of Fort William resided in Belvedere House , Calcutta , until
8073-419: The governor-general thus became the controller of foreign policy in India, he was not the explicit head of British India. That status came only with the Charter Act 1833 , which granted him "superintendence, direction and control of the whole civil and military Government" of all of British India. The act also granted legislative powers to the governor-general and council. In 1835, Lord William Bentinck became
8190-501: The governor-general. In 1948, C. Rajagopalachari became the only Indian governor-general. The governor-general's role was almost entirely ceremonial, with power being exercised on a day-to-day basis by the Indian cabinet. After the nation became a republic in 1950, the president of India continued to perform the same functions. The governor-general was always advised by a Council on the exercise of his legislative and executive powers. The governor-general, while exercising many functions,
8307-463: The largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with several colleges and research institutions. One theory suggests that the name "Shimla" was derived from Shyamalaya , meaning 'blue house', a solitary house made of blue slate on Jakhu Hill, built by a fakir . According to another version, the city gets its name from Shamli or Shyamala , meaning 'blue lady', referring to
8424-519: The last fifteen years) been happening in January or early February every year. The maximum snowfall received in recent times was 38.6 centimetres (15.2 in) on 18 January 2013. On two consecutive days (17 and 18 January 2013), the town received 63.6 centimetres (25.0 in) of snow. On the weekend of 12–13 August 2023, torrential rains attributed to climate change caused major landslides in Shimla, killing at least 57 people. These were part of
8541-571: The list of Indian cities with the highest-ranked hotels. Along with schools of higher education, several institutes are also present, namely Himachal Pradesh University and Indian Institute of Advanced Study . Recruitment to the IAAS is through the joint competitive examinations (the Civil Services Examination ) and promotion from the subordinate cadre. Once recruited to IAAS, the directly recruited officers are trained mainly at
8658-490: The many women passing the hot weather there, gave Shimla a reputation for adultery, and at least gossip about adultery: as Rudyard Kipling said in a letter cited by Allen, it had a reputation for "frivolity, gossip, and intrigue". The 500-foot (150 m) Lower Bazaar tunnel was built in 1905 and christened Khachhar Surang. The Elysium Tunnel (now known as the Auckland Tunnel), about 120 feet (37 m) in length,
8775-437: The member for Foreign Affairs in the Council and a British commissioner would be responsible for trade matters. 5. The defense of India would remain in British hands until power was ultimately transferred to Indians. 6. The Viceroy would convene a meeting of Indian politicians including the leaders of Congress and the Muslim League at which they would nominate members of the new Council. 7. If this plan were to be approved for
8892-471: The negative response of the general public, the state government dismissed the plan. Most of the area occupied by present-day Shimla city was dense forest during the 18th century. The only sign of civilisation was the Jakhu Temple and a few scattered houses. The area was called 'Shimla', perhaps named after a Hindu goddess , Shyamala Devi , an incarnation of Kali . The area of present-day Shimla
9009-411: The pleasure of the sovereign , though the practice was to have them serve five-year terms. A governor-general could have their commission rescinded; and if one was removed, or left, a provisional governor-general was sometimes appointed until a new holder of the office could be chosen. The first governor-general in India (of Bengal) was Warren Hastings , the first official governor-general of British India
9126-561: The prior approval of the governor-general and Council of Fort William. The powers of the governor-general, in respect of foreign affairs, were increased by the India Act 1784 . The act provided that the other governors under the East India Company could not declare war, make peace or conclude a treaty with an Indian prince unless expressly directed to do so by the governor-general or by the company's Court of Directors. While
9243-501: The provinces of British India , including Bengal , Bombay , Madras , Punjab , the United Provinces , and others. However, much of India was not ruled directly by the British Government; outside the provinces of British India, there were hundreds of nominally independent princely states or "native states", whose relationship was not with the British Government or the United Kingdom, but rather one of homage directly with
9360-592: The remainder. Recently a Model Career Centre has been set-up at Regional Employment Exchange, Shimla to enable bridging the gap between job-seekers and employers. In addition to being the local hub of transport and trade, Shimla is the area's healthcare centre, hosting a medical college and four major hospitals: Indira Gandhi Hospital (Snowdown Hospital,) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (formerly called Ripon Hospital), Kamla Nehru Hospital and Indus Hospital. The city's development plan aims to make Shimla an attractive health tourism spot. Major departmental headquarters of
9477-607: The seats are reserved for women. The elections take place every five years and the mayor and deputy mayor are elected by and amongst the councillors themselves. The administrative head of the corporation is the Commissioner who is appointed by the state government. The two major political parties are the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress with a third party, Communist Party of India (Marxist) , emerging. The city contributes one seat to
9594-431: The secretary of state for India convinced Churchill to release Gandhi on medical grounds, so he was released. After his release, Gandhi managed to recover. Upon hearing of this Churchill is said to have sent Wavell a peevish telegram asking ''why Gandhi has not died yet?'' Communal division was the greatest hurdle in the path of any political progress in India, so Wavell also began to agree with Amery's conviction that until
9711-554: The sole representative of Indian Muslims, and refused to back any plan in which the Indian National Congress , the dominant party in the talks, appointed Muslim representatives. This scuttled the conference, and perhaps the last viable opportunity for a united, independent India. When the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League reconvened under the Cabinet Mission the next year,
9828-523: The sole representative of Muslims of India was acknowledged. Wavell found this demand impossible thus half an hour later he told Gandhi about his failure, Gandhi took the news calmly and said: "His Majesty King George will sooner or later have to take the Hindu or Muslim point of view as they were irreconcilable." Thus the Wavell plan that was later to be called the Simla Conference failed in its objective and set
9945-420: The sovereign or the Indian secretary headed the executive departments, while those appointed by the viceroy debated and voted on legislation. In 1919, an Indian legislature, consisting of a Council of State and a Legislative Assembly, took over the legislative functions of the Viceroy's Council. The viceroy nonetheless retained significant power over legislation. He could authorise the expenditure of money without
10062-611: The sovereign, and the other three members by the secretary of state for India . The Indian Councils Act 1861 made several changes to the council's composition. Three members were to be appointed by the Secretary of State for India, and two by the Sovereign. The power to appoint all five members passed to the Crown in 1869. The viceroy was empowered to appoint an additional 'six to twelve' members (changed to 'ten to sixteen' in 1892, and to 'sixty' in 1909). The five individuals appointed by
10179-430: The state are also located in Shimla such as Himachal Pradesh Government Printing and Stationery Press , Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board , and Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters . The hotel industry is one of the major sources of income generation for the city. Shimla has up to 6500 hotels, including 5-star hotels, most popular is Oberoi Cecil , Peterhoff , Wildflower Hall and Hotel Holiday Home. Shimla leads
10296-507: The state assembly ( Vidhan Sabha ) and one seat to the lower house of parliament ( Lok Sabha ). Law and order in the city is collectively maintained by the Police Force, Vigilance Department, enforcement directorate, forensics, fire brigade, prisons service and Home Guard. There are five police stations and three fire stations in Shimla. The Superintendent of Police , Shimla heads the police force. The First Armed Police Battalion, one of
10413-469: The summit at 11:00 am on 25 June 1945. In the beginning Azad being president of Congress spoke of its "non-communal" character. Jinnah responded to this by speaking of Congress ' predominantly Hindu character and at that point there was a tug of war which had to be quieted down by Wavell. On the morning of 29 June the conference was reconvened and Wavell asked parties to submit a list of candidates for his new council, Azad agreed while Jinnah refused to submit
10530-462: The trend for the immediate topics that would dominate discourse until Indian independence. In May 1945 Wavell visited London and discussed his ideas with the British Government. These London talks resulted in the formulation of a definite plan of action which was officially made public simultaneously on 14 June 1945 by L.S. Amery, the Secretary of State for India, in the House of Commons and by Wavell in
10647-537: The two nations were otherwise headed by native governors-general. India became a secular republic in 1950; Pakistan became an Islamic one in 1956. The governor-general originally had power only over the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal . The Regulating Act, however, granted the governor-general additional powers relating to foreign affairs and defence. The other presidencies of the East India Company ( Madras , Bombay and Bencoolen ) were not allowed to declare war on or make peace with an Indian prince without receiving
10764-599: The vice royalty, Lord Wavell had been head of the Indian army and thus had an understanding of the Indian situation. On becoming Viceroy, Wavell’s most important task was to present a formula for the future government of India which would be acceptable to both the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League. Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942, after which he
10881-516: The viceroy occupied the newly built Viceroy's House, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens . Though construction began in 1912, it did not conclude until 1929; the palace was not formally inaugurated until 1931. The final cost exceeded £877,000 (over £35 million in modern terms)—more than twice the figure originally allocated. Today the residence, now known by the Hindi name of ' Rashtrapati Bhavan ', is used by
10998-421: The viceroy of India was allowed to fly a Union Jack Flag augmented in the centre with the 'Star of India' surmounted by a crown. This flag was not the viceroy's personal flag; it was also used by governors, lieutenant governors, chief commissioners and other British officers in India. When at sea, only the viceroy flew the flag from the mainmast, while other officials flew it from the foremast. From 1947 to 1950,
11115-748: The viceroy. The viceroy also oversaw the most powerful princely rulers : the Nizam of Hyderabad , the Maharaja of Mysore , the Maharaja ( Scindia ) of Gwalior , the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and the Gaekwad (Gaekwar) Maharaja of Baroda . The remaining princely rulers were overseen either by the Rajputana Agency and Central India Agency , which were headed by representatives of the viceroy or by provincial authorities. The Chamber of Princes
11232-587: Was Lord William Bentinck , and the first governor-general of the Dominion of India was Lord Mountbatten . Many parts of the Indian subcontinent were governed by the British East India Company (founded in 1600), which nominally acted as the agent of the Mughal emperor . Early British administrators were presidents or governors of Bengal Presidency . In 1773, motivated by corruption in
11349-437: Was 93.63% and that of urban agglomeration was 94.14%. The city area has increased considerably along with time. It has stretched from Hiranagar to Dhalli from one side & Tara Devi to Malyana in the other. As per the 2001 India Census, the city has a population of 142,161 spread over an area of 19.55 km . A floating population of 75,000 is attributed to service industries such as tourism. The largest demographic, 55%,
11466-503: Was a good person but he suffers hallucination when he imagines the unnatural division of India and creation of Pakistan". Wavell wired to Amery: "Gandhi wants independence first and then is willing to resolve communal problem afterwards as he is profoundly a Hindu and wants transfer of full power to some nebulous national, while Jinnah wants to settle the communal problem first and then wants independence as he has lost his trust in Congress and Hindus." Wavell viewed this mini-summit breakdown as
11583-415: Was abandoned when British India was partitioned into the two independent dominions of India and Pakistan , but the office of governor-general continued to exist in each country separately until they adopted republican constitutions in 1950 and 1956, respectively. Until 1858, the governor-general was selected by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to whom he was responsible. Thereafter, he
11700-475: Was allowed to fly back to India in June 1945 to release Congress Working Committee members and start the talks that would later be called the Simla Conference. Wavell decided to call all key leaders of India in Simla on 25 June 1945 and broadcast a message to all Indians on 14 June 1945 showing British willingness to give India dominion status as soon as possible if the communal deadlock was broken down. "India needs
11817-513: Was also built in 1905. The Simla Convention , an ambiguous treaty concerning the status of Tibet negotiated by representatives of the Republic of China , Tibet and Great Britain was signed in Simla in 1913 and 1914. At the convention a demarcation line between Tibet and the North-east region of India was proposed by Sir Henry McMahon . The line came to be known as McMahon Line and
11934-487: Was an institution established in 1920 by a royal proclamation of King-Emperor George V to provide a forum in which the princely rulers could voice their needs and aspirations to the government. The chamber usually met only once a year, with the viceroy presiding, but it appointed a standing committee, which met more often. Upon independence in August 1947, the title of viceroy was abolished. The representative of India's sovereign , King George VI , became known once again as
12051-531: Was appointed by the sovereign on the advice of the British Government; the Secretary of State for India , a member of the British Cabinet , was responsible for instructing him on the exercise of their powers. After 1947, the sovereign continued to appoint the governor-general but thereafter did so on the advice of the government of the newly independent Dominion of India. The governor-general served at
12168-526: Was arrested with other Congress lieutenants like Nehru and Patel . He was held separately in the Agha Khan's Pune palace while others were kept in the Ahmednagar Fort . Now he decided to launch his '' Satyagraha '', he commenced after the early morning breakfast on 10 February 1943 a fast for 21 days. Weighing 109 pounds when he began, Gandhi lost eighteen pounds after his 22-day fast. Fearing
12285-431: Was destroyed by fire in 1981. Simla Shimla ( English: / ˈ ʃ ɪ m l ə / ; Hindi: [ˈʃɪmla] ; also known as Simla , the official name until 1972 ) is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh . In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India . After independence , the city became the capital of East Punjab and
12402-482: Was elected in 1952. Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1 November 1956. Following areas of Punjab State namely Shimla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some areas of Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur District besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Tehsil of Pathankot district ; were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on
12519-400: Was first used in the queen's proclamation appointing Viscount Canning in 1858. It was never conferred by an act of parliament but was used in warrants of precedence and in the statutes of knightly orders. In usage, "viceroy" is employed where the governor-general's position as the monarch's representative is in view. The viceregal title was not used when the sovereign was present in India. It
12636-629: Was granted in 1833, and the official came to be known as the governor-general of India. In 1858, because of the Indian Rebellion the previous year, the territories and assets of the East India Company came under the direct control of the British Crown ; as a consequence, company rule in India was succeeded by the British Raj . The governor-general (now also the Viceroy ) headed the central government of India, which administered
12753-632: Was invaded and captured by Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal in 1806. The British East India Company took control of the territory as per the Sugauli Treaty after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16). The Gurkha leaders were quelled by storming the fort of Malaun under the command of David Ochterlony in May 1815. In a diary entry dated 30 August 1817, the Gerard brothers, who surveyed the area, describe Shimla as "a middling-sized village where
12870-408: Was later made the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state. Small hamlets were recorded before 1815 when British forces took control of the area. The climatic conditions attracted the British to establish the city in the dense forests of the Himalayas . As the summer capital, Shimla hosted many important political meetings including
12987-675: Was meant to indicate new responsibilities, especially ritualistic ones, but it conferred no new statutory authority. The governor-general regularly used the title in communications with the Imperial Legislative Council , but all legislation was made only in the name of the Governor-General-in-Council (or the Government of India). The governor-general was styled Excellency and enjoyed precedence over all other government officials in India. He
13104-639: Was named Shimla. Shimla is home to several buildings that are styled in the Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture and churches, the temples, and the natural environment of the city attract tourists. Major city centre's attractions include the Shri Hanuman Jakhu (Statue) , Jakhu Temple , Viceregal Lodge , Christ Church , Mall Road , The Ridge and Annadale . The city centre's northernmost point
13221-578: Was named its capital. After independence, the Chief Commissioner's Province of H.P. came into being on 15 April 1948 as a result of the integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudatory princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya , known in full as the Shimla Hills States and four Punjab southern hill states by the issue of the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 and 4 of
13338-458: Was referred to as 'His Excellency' and addressed as 'Your Excellency'. From 1858 to 1947, the governor-general was known as the viceroy of India (from the French roi , meaning 'king'), and wives of Viceroys were known as Vicereines (from the French reine , meaning 'queen'). The Vicereine was referred to as 'Her Excellency' and was also addressed as 'Your Excellency'. Neither title was employed while
13455-415: Was referred to as the "Governor-General in Council." The Regulating Act 1773 provided for the election of four counsellors by the East India Company's Court of Directors. The governor-general was to be assisted by an executive council of four members and was given a casting vote but no veto. The decision of the council was binding on the governor-general. In 1784, the council was reduced to three members;
13572-457: Was to represent the Sikhs and B. R. Ambedkar to represent the "untouchables", John Mathai was the only Christian thus bringing the total to sixteen including the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief. Amery asked Wavell to consult this list with Jinnah, when Jinnah was asked about the Muslim names he adamantly refused to allow any League member to be part of the government until the League's right to be
13689-567: Was touted as an engineering feat and came to be known as the "British Jewel of the Orient". In 2008, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site . Following the partition of India , it briefly served as the capital of East Punjab, until construction of the new city of Chandigarh (the present-day capital of the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana ). Upon the formation of the state of Himachal Pradesh in 1971, Shimla
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