B uilt in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as an astronomical observatory, Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has evolved over three centuries into India’s most iconic public gathering space. Its proximity to Parliament and key Union Government Ministries transformed the site into an accessible platform for citizens, activists and student unions to voice their dissent. Jantar Mantar Road eventually became the capital’s primary protest ground, after demonstrations shifted from the sprawling Boat Club lawns near India Gate in the early 1990s due to administrative and traffic regulations.
In 1993, a massive Jail Bharo agitation against government economic policies brought thousands to the site. In April 2011, activist Anna Hazare launched a landmark five-day hunger strike demanding the Jan Lokpal Bill, which sparked a nationwide anti-corruption movement. This was followed by the widespread Nirbhaya protests in December 2012, which galvanised public outrage against sexual violence and led to major legal reforms. Following weeks of youth-led agitations demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over controversial voter list revisions, the Delhi Police has now formally denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue on October 12, 2026. Its location, less than 3 km from Parliament, made Jantar Mantar a symbolic alternative to marches towards Parliament. Supporters of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare gather for a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 11, 2011, to protest the proposals of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Lokpal Bill. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists demonstrate at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 16, 2004, to protest the central government’s decision to hike the prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG. Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 22, 2026, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak.
Over the decades, Jantar Mantar has provided the backdrop for major movements that defined modern Indian history. However, the status of Jantar Mantar as the heart of New Delhi protests and a symbol of public dissent is now facing major transformation. An aerial view of the historic Jantar Mantar in the heart of the Delhi city.
