In the words of Joe Dassin: 'Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Élysées.' Basically, 'there's everything you want at the Champs-Élysées.' I can't reckon any specific song addressed to 'Rajpath' saying it has everything you want (unless the list includes power, history, pride or ice creams, helium balloons and glittering toys). The former boasts of high end stores that mock your purses at times, while the latter gives you an occasion to assume that while you take a bite of your orange candy, the head of the state is perhaps also relishing his dessert just at the other end of the same road.
The Champs-Élysées and the Rajpath are two pathways that are held dear by the capital cities of France and India and their people for being extravagant promenades of history, architecture, culture and democracy. But more importantly, these are New Delhi's and Paris' most 'happening' spaces. These are public spaces that resemble each other like no other popular boulevards of the world.
The Champs-Élysées was conceived years before Rajpath was designed by Lutyens but the monuments that adorn them share a common theme of sacrifice and memory. India Gate is a younger and leaner cousin of L'Arc de Triomphe. Both the architectural marvels commemorate martyrs and protect the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame / Amar Jawan Jyoti:
France is sometimes referred to as the 'Hexagon' and the area central to the Lutyens Delhi is also the 'C-Hexagon (Not to forget the prominent Octagon of Baron Haussman's Paris). On the other ends of both these Martyrs' memorials are situated prominent pillars. In case of Champs-Élysées, there's the Obelisk of Luxor and in case of Rajpath there's the Jaipur Column situated on the premises of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The Republic Day Parade on 26th January and the Bastille Day Parade on 14th July held on the Rajpath and the Champs-Élysées respectively need absolutely no further emphasis on their similarity. The world recognizes their eminence.
A relatively recent trend of Rajpath being a prime location for cyclothons and marathons has shown that its inspiration perhaps lies in the Tour de France happening on the Champs-Élysées.
The new Central Vista project that attempts to transform Lutyens' Delhi might bring the Rajpath even closer to Champs-Élysées as it will be a boulevard of Museums, Art Exhibitions and Memorials (The National War Memorial inaugurated in 2019 being an extraordinary recent addition).
Finally, personally for me, Rajpath and Champs-Élysées belong to the people who maintain their greens. The Gardeners/ Jardinists/ Jardinistes who exquisitely keep the flower beds near the Vijay Chowk blooming and the trees along the grand cobbled pathway in Paris symmetrical.
Both boulevards are not just roads that take you from one place to the other, they are the ones that make you stop and look around in awe.
Unaware of this exemplary resemblance. Proud of Rajpath and Champ Elysees.So much to read in the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Great observation.
ReplyDeleteYour write-ups are absolute pleasure to your readers sir.
ReplyDeletewow , good to read it. it seems like, Earth is round, things are more or less somewhat similar across the countries , with slight modifications as per local taste .How do they evolve similar patterns like similar parade kind thing, cycling .
ReplyDeletebut I wonder about the feeling to be at Champs Elysees is similar to Rajpath, India gate or different... do the gap between India and France ,their level of development, their culture lead to affect the feeling or not ?
Your incredible observation and distinguished view points on the aspects of life is a pleasure to read and learn.
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