From a large business family of Hadali in Sargodha, came Sujan Singh and his son Sobha Singh as contractors to level land and lay roads for the Delhi Durbar of 1911, and there was no looking back for the father son duo. Sardar Sobha Singh would turn out to be the biggest contractor New Delhi had and also an influential figure in the city, involved with Arts and Architecture Commissions, the Municipal Corporation and a member of the Delhi Improvement Trust. Newspapers and clipping would cover his presence at many social events in town held by the Princes or Rais and a constant figure to discussions about the city.
Some of the most prominent commissions he undertook were South Block for the Government, All India War Memorial, Scindia House, Regal Cinema, Connaught Place and Modern School. Given his fine taste in modern Art and Architecture, Sobha Singh constructed many of the palatial houses which would be designed by foreign and Indian Architects. Sobah Singh also owned and constructed Sujan Singh Apartments near Khan Market built during the time of the Second World War. He was awarded a knighthood to mark his contribution as one of the finest contractors in the British Reign.
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References: Malvika Singh, "New Delhi: Making of a Capital", 2009; Jon Lang, "A Concise History of Modern Architecture in India", 2002;