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Tolstoy Marg

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A Tolstoy Marg Signboard in Connaught Place
A Tolstoy Marg Signboard in Connaught Place

Tolstoy Marg (Hindi: टॉलस्टॉय मार्ग, lit. 'Tolstoy Road') is a road in the Connaught Place, New Delhi area.

This road was named after famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

Tolstoy Marg links Barakhamba Road and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Marg intersection, to Sansad Marg intersection. Inside Connaught Place, the road connects to other important roads like Jantar Mantar Road, Janpath, Atul Grove Road, and Kasturba Gandhi Marg.[1] Tolstoy Marg houses many commercial offices and offices of some Public Sector Enterprises as well.

Tolstoy Marg is usually the focal point of protest marches and other political rallies in the city.[2] Political rallies towards Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, often passes through Tolstoy Marg.[3]

History

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Freemasons Hall, Janpath.
Freemasons Hall, Janpath.

Tolstoy Marg was constructed during the British era, when Robert Tor Russell was designing the Connaught Place. In those days it was named as Keeling Road, after Hugh Keeling, who was the Chief Engineer of Delhi.[4][5]

During the Partition of India in 1947, several Muslim families who were residents of Keeling Road, had moved to Pakistan,[6][7] and likewise people coming to India from Pakistan had made Keeling road their new home.[8]

Prominent leader Deshbandhu Gupta also used to live in a big house on Keeling Road.[9] He was a resident of “5, Keeling Road”.[10]

When the headquarters of Communist Party of India were shifted from Bombay to New Delhi in 1951, they were first housed on “4, Keeling Road”.[11][12]

In 1962, to meet the increasing need of commercial space in Central part of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had decided to extend Connaught Place Commercial Area up to the Keeling Road. It was done under “Delhi Master Plan 1962”.[13]

This road was renamed as Tolstoy Marg in 1968.[4]

During Soviet era, Information Department of the USSR Embassy in India, was situated nearby on 25, Barakhamba Road of New Delhi.[14] Soviet Airlines Aeroflot had an office on Tolstoy Marg,[15] which is currently shifted to nearby Barakhamba Road.[16]

Tolstoy statue and Tolstoy House

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Statue of Leo Tolstoy on Tolstoy Marg
Statue of Leo Tolstoy on Tolstoy Marg

On the sidewalk of a road where Tolstoy Marg meets Janpath, there stands a black colored bronze statue of Leo Tolstoy, that was installed here in 1994.[17] This statue was constructed in USSR in 1989. [18][19] However it was only after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, that the statue was finally installed on the Tolstoy Marg. This statue was inaugurated by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin in 1994 during his visit to India. [17] This statue faces a heritage building “Freemasons Hall” which is situated opposite side, on the Janpath Road, and this building was constructed in the year 1936.[20][21]

The Tolstoy Statue on this road often witnesses the gathering of the fans of Russian Literature, Leo Tolstoy, and Mahatma Gandhi.[22]

Presently a building called Tolstoy House is also situated on this road.[23][24]

Notable establishments

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Notable establishments on Tolstoy Marg include:

References

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  1. ^ "Tolstoy Marg, Google Maps". Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  2. ^ Choudhury, Karan (25 February 2011). "Protests, Dharnas Give Cops Tough Time". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Citizen's March to Parliament House". Indian Express. 5 December 1988. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Shukla, Vivek (17 December 2021). "Delhi Mein Badalte Rehte Hain Sadkon Ke Naam (Names of Roads Keeps Changing in Delhi. Hindi)". BBC Hindi. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ Soofi, Mayank Austen (4 September 2015). "Bye Bye Aurangzeb". Mint Newspaper (Live Mint). Hindustan Times Group. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ^ Qamar, Irfan. "If Ever I decide to Go Anywhere, I'll Go to Delhi". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  7. ^ Puri, Kavita (2019). Partition voices: untold British stories. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781408899069. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  8. ^ Pandya, Haresh (28 July 2015). "Ved Vyas, Educator". Outlook India. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  9. ^ Geva, Rotem (August 2022). Delhi Reborn: Partition and Nation Building in India's Capital. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9781503631199. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  10. ^ Who's Who 1950 (PDF). New Delhi: Parliament of India. 15 May 1950. p. 36. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  11. ^ Dubey, Radhe (2006). Kahani Ek Naye Mazmoon Ki (Story of a New Idea. Hindi). B-131, Sadatpur, Po. Gokalpuri, New Delhi - 110094: Lok Prakashan Griha. p. 28.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  12. ^ Party Letter (End Page Address) (PDF). 4, Keeling Road, New Delhi: Communist Party of India. 30 January 1953. Retrieved 23 April 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. ^ Delhi Master Plan 1962 (PDF). Delhi Development Authority (DDA). 1 September 1962. p. 10. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  14. ^ Syomin, GA, ed. (26 February 1981). "Address of Publisher Section". Soviet Review. XVIII (10). 25, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi: Information Department of USSR Embassy in India.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  15. ^ "Aeroflot Previous Office Address". Web Duniya. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Aeroflot Present Office Address". Aeroflot. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Paamitniki Inastrantse Vy' Indeeski Staleetsaa (Foreign Monuments in the Indian Capital. Russian)". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Soviet Fest to Wind Up with Grand Show". Indian Express. 12 November 1988. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  19. ^ Soofi, Mayank Austen. "City Landmark, Tolstoy Statue Janpath". Delhi Wallah. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Grand Masonic Lodge, Contact Us". Grand Lodge of India. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Masonic Center of India – New Delhi. The Headquarters of the Grand Lodge of India". Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India.
  22. ^ Rudakova, Natalya. "Expedition to Highlight Moral Values of Tolstoy, Gandhi". Russia Beyond the Headlines. RBTH. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  23. ^ Soofi, Mayank Austen. "City Walk : Tolstoy's Country, Connaught Place". Delhi Wallah. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Russian Visa Application Centre Delhi, Address". Embassy of Russian Federation in India. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  25. ^ "State Trading Corporation, Contact Us". STC. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  26. ^ "SIDBI, Contact Us". Small Industries Development Bank of India.
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