India, Nov. 1 -- As Delhi marks its Foundation Day on November 1, the occasion carries more than ceremonial weight. It is the remembrance of a turning point nearly seven decades ago, when the country reshaped its administrative map and the national capital's political destiny changed forever.

After Independence, Delhi was one of India's Part-C states, enjoying a measure of autonomy with an elected legislative assembly and council of ministers. The city elected its first government in 1951, with Chaudhary Brahm Prakash as chief minister. But that early experiment with self-governance was short-lived.

In 1955, the States Reorganisation Commission, set up to rationalise India's administrative boundaries largely along linguistic lines, reco...