Chicago Sister City Since 2001  

Committee Chair:   Smita Niranjan Shah, P.E.
 
Country Location:  
Southern Asia  
 
Country Population:  
Over 1 billion  
 
City Population:  
Over 15 million  

Time Zone:  
IST (UTC+5:30)

Geography:  
Northern India.  It borders the Indian sate of Uttar Pradesh on the south and Haryana on the west.  Delhi can be divided into three major geographical regions: the Yamuna flood plain, the Delhi ridge and the Gangetic Plains.  Yamuna is the only main river flowing through Delhi.  Most of the city, including New Delhi lies west of the river.  East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara.

Demographics:
Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the Indian bureaucracy, political system and expanding economy.  There are more than 160 embassies and a every growing population.  In 2003 the National Capital Terrioty of Delhi had a population of 14.1 million people making Delhi the second largest metropolitan area in India after Mumbai. 

Climate:
Delhi has a semi-arid climate with a high variation between summer and winter temparatures.  Summers are long, from early April until October with the monsoon season in between.  Winter starts in November and peaks in January.  The city has a pleasant climate from February to April and from August to November. 

History:  
The area has been settled for 2,500 years. Since the 12th century, Delhi has seen the rise and fall of 7 major powers. In 1803, the British captured Delhi and made it the capital in 1911. Since Independence in 1947, Delhi has prospered as the capital of India. In the past decade, its population has increased by 50%, largely due to rapid economic expansion and increased job opportunities.  

Language:  
Hindi is the principal language that is spoken and written.  The secondary spoken language is English. India host a multitude of various dialects whereas most people commonly speak more than one language.

Did You Know?  
The Chicago Art Institute happens to be the venue where the famous Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893. On September 11, 1995, the Art Institute put up a bronze plaque to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s historic address. The plaque reads: “ On this site between September 11 and 27, 1893, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), the first Hindu monk from India to teach Vedanta in America, addressed the World’s Parliament of Religions, held in conjunction with the World’s Columbian Exposition. His unprecedented success opened the way for the dialogue between eastern and western religions. ”  On November 11, 1995, the stretch of Michigan Avenue that passes in front of the Art Institute was formally conferred the honorary name “Swami Vivekananda Way.”

Links & Resources:  
Delhi Website http://delhigovt.nic.in/index.asp 

Delhi on Yahoo: http://in.yahoo.com/ 

DELHI EVENTS

DELHI NEWS DELHI: AACTION Autism Dinner The Delhi Committee co-hosted a dinner in support of AACTION Autism, an organization sending an AACTION team of volunteer medical and educational autism professionals to New Delhi and Bangalore on November 27, 2007. This team will provide much needed training and consultation to Indian professionals and families struggling with Autism. Words from Smita Shah, Delhi Committee Chair: "My name is Smita Shah, and I am the chair of the Delhi Committee for the Chicago Si... DELHI: Chair Receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor Smita N. Shah, Chair of the Delhi Sister Cities International Program, was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor award for 2007 at the Great Hall on Ellis Island, New York on May 12th. She is the first female of Indian origin to receive the award. The award pays homage to the historical significance of immigration and acknowledges citizens of the United States of various ethnic backgrounds for the exceptional qualities of their perso...