Rock Garden’s Bitter-Sweet Centenary: Demolition Mars Nek Chand’s Legacy
Chandigarh celebrated the birth centenary of Nek Chand, the visionary behind the iconic Rock Garden, on August 4, 2025. However, the festivities were overshadowed by a jarring contrast: the simultaneous demolition of a section of the very garden he created.
This act highlights a growing conflict in urban development: the tension between prioritizing infrastructure projects and preserving valuable, sustainable, and creatively repurposed spaces.
Nek Chand’s Rock Garden stands as a testament to waste-based design and informal creativity. Built from discarded materials, it offers invaluable lessons in sustainable urban planning often ignored in favour of conventional methods.
The demolition raises serious questions about the city’s commitment to preserving its unique cultural heritage and embracing sustainable practices. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for a more holistic approach to urban development that values both progress and preservation.
This incident underscores the urgent need for a national dialogue on balancing infrastructure development with the protection of unique, sustainable, and culturally significant spaces. The future of similar artistic and environmentally conscious projects across India hangs in the balance.
