On the occasion of 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong jointly released India - Singapore Joint issue commemorative stamps depicting official residence of the President of India (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and President of Singapore (Istana), at Istana, Singapore on 24th November 2015.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Residence) is the official residence of the President of India, located in Raisina Hill, New Delhi. The present day Rashtrapati Bhavan was the erstwhile residence of the British Viceroy. The decision to build a residence in New Delhi for the British Viceroy was taken after it was decided in the Delhi Durbar of 1911 that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in the same year. It was transformed in to the permanent institution of democracy on 26th January 1950 when Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India and occupied this building to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of India. It was from that day that this building was renamed as Rashtrapati Bhavan - the President's House.
It is interesting to note that the building which was scheduled to be completed in four years took seventeen years and on the eighteenth year of its completion India became independent. Apart from architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens, the Chief architect and Chief Engineer Hugh Keeling there were many Indian contractors who were involved in the construction of this building. This vast mansion has got four floors and 340 rooms. With a floor area of 200,000 square feet it is built by using 700 million bricks and three million cubic feet of stone. Rashtrapati Bhavan is the largest head of state residence in the world however in terms of area Presidential Complex of Turkey is largest in the world which was opened on 29th October 2014.
The Istana is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore. It occupies over 40 hectares of land along Orchard Road. It is a precious and important part of Singapore's history and heritage, and has borne witness to Singapore's many historical milestones. Meaning "palace" in Malay, it is where the President receives and entertains state guests. The Istana is also the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. It is in a large open compound in the otherwise urbanised setting of the Orchard Road area.
The Istana building was built by the British Colonial government to house its governors. Completed in 1869, it was then known as the Government House. The building was handed over to the Singapore Government when Singapore attained self government in 1959, and renamed Istana (“Palace” in Malay). The Istana building underwent extensive renovation between 1996 and 1998, to add more space and modern day conveniences.
Photo Courtesy: ANI
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