The iconic Badi Chaupar and Chhoti Chaupar in the old city were once the epicentres of political activities. Until early nineties, these square-shaped big platforms at the centre of arterial crossroads of the city hosted political rallies and public gatherings by stalwarts like former chief ministers Heera Lal Shastri, Mohan Lal Sukhadia, Hari Dev Joshi and Bharion Singh Shekhawat.The two Chaupars connected three assembly constituents of Kishanpole, Johari Bazaar and Hawa Mahal. After 2008 delimitation, Johari Bazaar was scrapped, while the boundaries of other two were redefined.The iconic Chaupars today stand as a relics of the past. In recent years, the two places were dug up and rebuilt for underground laying of tracks for the Jaipur Metro. As population increased and habitation expanded outside the Walled City, the political action too shifted from the old confines. In the early nineties, the first rally by Shekhawat at Amrudon-Ka-Bagh, a forest area cleared for government projects, became permanent site for political actions.A scribe, Jagdish Sharma recalls that the public squares had shaped political discourses for decades before they became redundant. Sharma said, “During polls the residents frequented the two Chaupars, which were easily approachable public places in the Parkota (Walled City). The evening gatherings in small groups under the streetlights used to go on for hours.”The contesting candidates would make a point to spend their evenings meeting people to convey their ideas and make promises. The election issues revolved around the need for better roads, drainage, water supply and jobs. The limited resources for campaigning in those days made the Chaupars ideal places for communicating with the voters.Former waqf board member (1977-82), Abdul Quyum Akhtar who lives in Ramganj area said that during the rallies the mikes were placed in all four directions ensuring that the leaders’ voice reached the farthest corner of the city. “Calling out names of candidates and repeatedly introducing the national leader were part of the campaigning, as the aim was to resonate the name of the candidate among the voters,” said Akhtar.Earlier, the main roads had no dividers and offered wide spaces for large gatherings to sit and listen. A former Jan Sangh and BJP leader Naveen Sogani, who lives in the narrow lanes of the Walled City, recalled how people used to hold meetings in every lane and by-lane before big political rallies at either of the two Chaupars. “It was always a big event to hold an address from either of the two platforms. Prior to the big gatherings, temporary tea stalls, snacks outlets and balloon sellers would create an ambience of a fair,” recalled Sogani.Today, not many would know that the places they pass by every day played such an important place in the state’s post-independence political history.

Stay updated with all the Latest Jaipur headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.