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In celebration of a legacy

India's first star hotel, The Ashok in New Delhi, completes 50 years in 2006. SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY recaps the past, captures the future

The year was 1956. But much before that, a young Karan Singh, then the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Kashmir State, had received a call from Pandit Nehru, the country's Prime Minister, that essentially brought about the birth of India's first star hotel - The Ashok.

The hotel, at 50 B in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri overlooking the posh Diplomatic Enclave, has plodded through as many as 50 years of life since then, but en route, has not only lost the sparkle of 1956 but also defeated its great history. Sad that no Indian heart today turns fonder at the mention of The Ashok, no heads of state check in there anymore. Like any other state-run establishment, it has long reeled under the weight of demands for free sarkari service from the politicians and their minions, red tape and a fading semblance of maintenance. At least that is the general idea on the street.

Singh recalls that The Ashok was born more as a way of wearing the nationalist pride on the sleeve than with any commercial advantage in mind. "Panditji said the princes should contribute money to make a good hotel in Delhi. We have nothing to count. He said I will give you land but will you all put in your money? And so we did," recollects Singh. The state of Kashmir along with two more states contributed funds to construct the hotel, but soon the funds shared out for it went dry.

"We spent about 10 to 20 lakhs and then ran out of money. We went back to Panditji and the government had to chip in," he shares a sliver of the hotel's history, something hard to find even in this celebratory year of 50 years completion of the hotel.

Singh recollects that in the `50s, a hefty amount of Rs.3 crore was spent to get The Ashok on its feet. The colossal edifice that went up was a pure instance of the country's post-independence-instilled Revivalist architecture with the rose-pink walls of Kota stone, the turreted contours reclaiming a strong national style of building construction, besides the Moghul style arches. Among its 570 rooms were the deftly decorated Natraj Suite, the Kashmir Suite, the Rajput Suite and the Presidential Suite, all representing the diversity of the country. The hotel's staff got the initial training from The Oberoi Maidens staff. Besides funds, the princely states also contributed artefacts to beautify the hotel's interiors. Even now, the neck-high statue of Natraja gifted by Singh stands tall at the lobby, besides other state contributions like the wooden chariot, bronze statues and other relics. Understandably then, the country so proudly offered it as a place of stay to visiting dignitaries.

Continues Singh, "After it came up, Panditji told me that he wanted it to be a cultural hub too. So we worked towards it. The Ashok hotel gave a platform to many well-known people including Yamini Krishnamurti, Raja Radha Reddy, particularly in the `60s when I became the Tourism Minister."

The Ashok, in its 50th year, has quite a few celebratory plans on the board, though. The most vital is a much called-for renovation. Says Vinod Sharma, the hotel's General Manager, "We are spending a total of Rs.140 crores to renovate three floors comprising 128 rooms and perhaps the lobby too. In the first phase, we will spend Rs 90 crores." The renovation work will soon start and is likely to take up about four months. Hi-tech lifts, up-to-date lighting, modern kitchen equipment are some of the things that are likely to be included in the span of things to be refurbished. This Wednesday, the print advertisements to announce the celebrations will start coming out.

Also, in October, there is a plan to display a photo exhibition with a repertoire of pictures clicked during its construction and other celebratory events organised at the hotel. "We will also issue a stamp in honour of it," he informs. All of these will be a part of a month-long celebration of the occasion.

Stamp release

Sharma says the hotel is also looking at the idea of calling the first guests who stayed here, and the first batch of staff. "Besides, we shall suitably reward the existing staff to commemorate the event," adds Sharma.

But the crucial question is, will all of this reinstate the pride in the hearts of the man on the street? Let's keep our fingers crossed.

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