Marking a definite point in time after achieving our hard earned independence, the Hall of Nations and Industries complex and Nehru Pavilion at Pragati Maidan are iconic landmarks in our capital. They are a symbol of progress and modernity of a developing India, achieving worldwide recognition. By modernising traditional elements, these structures boast of spatial ingenuity and architectural richness. Raj Rewal’s designs have painted an impressive picture in the minds of many, but with the impending demolition of these engineering marvels, there is a need to rise to the task of defending our nation’s architectural pride. Here is a petition to save Hall of Nations and Industries complex and Nehru Pavilion, and to commit to a future involving active public use of the buildings.
Image Source: change.org
Wall As a Public Space
“To read public space only as a spatial condition, as a matter of square footage, zoning, or physical access, is to miss half the picture.”—Reshma Esther Thomas
April 29, 2026
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Reshma Esther Thomas examines how Hyderabad’s flyover pillars, painted with Cheriyal-style murals under the GHMC’s ‘City Art Scape’ initiative, reveal the paradox of managed public space. What appears to be beautification is actually cultural assertion in the wake of the 2014 bifurcation, bureaucratising a surface that once belonged to those without institutional power.
