Shimla Assembly Council Chamber Marks 100 Years, Witness to Historic Events

Shimla, August 20 – The Himachal Pradesh Assembly Council Chamber on Wednesday completed 100 years since its establishment. Marking the occasion, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said the chamber stands as a living witness to the history of democracy, with decisions taken here having shaped the course of Indian politics and society. From the British era to the present day, this Council Chamber has been a stage for many historic developments.

Construction of the building began in 1920 and was completed on August 20, 1925. At that time, under the Government of India Act, 1919, the British Indian Government was formed with 145 members, including 104 elected and the rest nominated. The Assembly’s summer sessions were held in Shimla. It was in this very chamber that Vitthalbhai Patel was elected as the first Indian President (then known as the Presiding Officer).

The proposal granting women the right to vote was also passed in this chamber. Speaker Pathania recalled that the chair he now occupies once bore the symbol of the British Crown, which was later replaced by the national emblem, the Ashoka Pillar, after Independence. He said this building is not just a stone structure but an integral part of India’s democratic journey. “It was here that democratic values were nurtured, guiding society in a new direction,” he remarked.

Speaking on the Assembly’s functioning, Pathania noted that the Himachal Pradesh Assembly sessions run longer than those of many other states. While in several large states assemblies often run for less than 20 days, Himachal’s sessions extend well beyond that. He urged both the ruling party and the opposition to engage in debates with seriousness and dignity.