American landmarks throbbing in the heart of Delhi

Even as the United States marked its 250th Independence Day on July 4, the occasion resonated with hundreds of families across Delhi and the National Capital Region. Many work with US-based companies and have connections with American life through jobs, culture and opportunities.

The ideals associated with July 4, 1776, have influenced the world for more than two centuries. In Delhi, the relationship between India and the United States is also reflected in a number of institutions and landmarks linked to diplomacy, education and cultural exchange.

A diplomatic landmark

The most prominent among them is the US Embassy in Chanakyapuri. Planning for the complex began in the early 1950s on a 28-acre site in the diplomatic enclave.

Renowned American architect Edward Durell Stone designed the building, combining modernist ideas with influences drawn from Indian architecture. The structure features a distinctive white sunscreen and a central water garden, creating a sense of calm amid Delhi’s heat.

On September 1, 1956, Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren laid the cornerstone, expressing the hope that the embassy would become a “temple of peace”. It was formally opened on January 5, 1959, in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Within the same complex stands Roosevelt House, the official residence of the US Ambassador. Its architecture complements that of the chancery, and the residence has played an important role in diplomatic engagements and high-level visits over the decades.

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The Kennedy connection

President John F Kennedy had planned to visit India in early 1964. He intended to visit the newly built US Embassy, designed by Stone, and stay at Roosevelt House.

Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, before the visit could take place.

His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, had visited India earlier. She arrived in Delhi on March 12, 1962, for a goodwill tour that continued until March 21. Welcomed at Palam Airport by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the 32-year-old First Lady also paid her respects at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial.

The visit took place during John Kenneth Galbraith’s tenure as US Ambassador to India. Galbraith enjoyed direct access to Kennedy and developed a close working relationship with Nehru.

Veteran journalist Trilokdeep recalled: “Delhi was decked up to welcome the First Lady of the US. The mood was festive and electric. I still remember that the media had covered her visit in a big way.”

Galbraith’s Delhi years

An economist and intellectual who stood over six feet tall, Galbraith served as US Ambassador to India from 1961 to 1963.

During the 1962 India-China war, Galbraith maintained a direct channel with President Kennedy and played a significant diplomatic role in coordinating the US response.

After his tenure, Galbraith returned to India to deliver lectures. He also recommended Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Kanu Gandhi for studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Gandhi later worked for NASA and the US Defence Department.

Decades later, Richard Rahul Verma brought a different personal connection to the role. Verma, who served as US Ambassador to India from 2015 to 2017, is an Indian-American with Punjabi roots in Jalandhar.

During his tenure, his connection to his ancestral home added a personal dimension to his role as Ambassador.

A school shaped by Stein

Another prominent institution in Chanakyapuri is the American Embassy School (AES). Established in 1952, initially for the children of American families, it later began welcoming students from several countries.

In 1963, the school moved to its present campus. Renowned American architect Joseph Allen Stein designed the original stone buildings, combining California modernism with Indian sensibilities and local materials.

“Stein, who settled in India in 1952, left a lasting imprint on Delhi’s architecture. The area around Lodi Gardens is sometimes affectionately called ‘Steinabad’, and a Joseph Stein Lane honours his contributions,” said eminent architect Ranjit John.

Stein also designed several of Delhi’s landmark buildings, including the India International Centre, the Ford Foundation building, India Habitat Centre and the UNICEF building.

His designs emphasised local materials, natural light and gardens, allowing buildings to harmonise with their surroundings. At the AES campus, this approach created bright, open spaces intended to encourage learning and interaction.

Today, AES serves a highly diverse international student body. President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the school in December 1959, highlighting its significance in the relationship between the two countries.

A cultural bridge in Connaught Place

In Connaught Place, the American Center serves as a hub for cultural exchange.

It houses the American Library, which offers extensive resources on US history and culture, and regularly hosts events, film screenings, talks and reading programmes. Over the decades, the centre has served as a meeting point for Indians interested in American society, education and culture.

Together, these institutions tell the story of India-US ties over several decades. India and the United States established diplomatic relations on November 1, 1946, before India gained independence the following year.

The American presence in Delhi is therefore not confined to diplomatic buildings. From Stein’s architecture and the classrooms of AES to the work of envoys such as Galbraith and Verma, these places reflect decades of diplomacy, learning and collaboration.

As the United States marks 250 years of independence, Delhi’s American landmarks also serve as reminders of the long and evolving relationship between the two democracies, and of the connections built between their people over generations.

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