Chandigarh: Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday attended a programme titled “75 Years of Chandigarh: Honouring Indian Modernists of Chandigarh” at the Government Museum and Art Gallery.The event, organised by the Chandigarh administration in association with the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation, marked 75 years of the city’s creation. Addressing the gathering, Kataria said Chandigarh symbolises modern India’s vision of planned urban development and has emerged as a global model of balanced living since work on the city began in 1951.He highlighted the role played by Indian architects, engineers and administrators in translating the city’s vision into reality and stressed the need to preserve Chandigarh’s architectural heritage while moving towards sustainable and future-ready development. The governor also underlined the importance of public participation and urged citizens, institutions and youth to actively take part in programmes planned between 2026 and 2028 to commemorate 75 years of the city.On the occasion, the first group of 12 Indian modernists who contributed to Chandigarh’s planning and development were honoured. As most of them are no longer alive, their family members received the honours, while senior architect SD Sharma accepted the recognition in person.The programme also highlighted the importance of conserving Chandigarh’s architecture, green cover and planned infrastructure alongside strengthening smart initiatives and sustainable practices. Kataria noted the role of the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation, established in 2025 under the leadership of V P Malik, in promoting heritage conservation, inclusivity and sustainable living.The event concluded with a call for collective efforts to preserve Chandigarh’s legacy and reinforce its identity as a model planned city.
