Simla Agreement table stands as a quiet witness to history amid fresh India-Pakistan tensions

Visitors to Raj Bhavan can witness this piece of history in the Summit Hall, where the table remains carefully preserved. As one passes through the grand wooden entrance, the table comes into view—elegantly curved, with ornate golden trimmings, and adorned with two symbolic national flags (though only the Indian flag remains today). Framed photographs of President Bhutto and a joint image of the Indian and Pakistani delegations facing each other during the summit are placed on the table. The exhibit is enclosed by small copper pillars linked by a golden chain, all resting on a plush red carpet. Above the display, a large portrait of Indira Gandhi overlooks the setting.

“Raj Bhavan, formerly known as Barnes Court, is a heritage building in itself,” said Jayant Sharma, Public Relations Officer at the Governor’s House, speaking to The Indian Express. “The wooden table on which the Simla Agreement was signed has been preserved as a historical artifact in the Summit Hall. It’s maintained in its original condition and polished every six months, with special attention given to the golden trims. We’ve opened Raj Bhavan to the general public on weekends—Saturday and Sunday—from 2 pm to 5 pm. Entry is Rs 30 for Indian adults and Rs 70 for foreign nationals, while children can enter free of charge.”

He added, “Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla recently took the decision to open Raj Bhavan to the general public on weekends.”

Meanwhile, AN Barowalia, 84, who served as Personal Assistant Secretary to then Governor S Chakravarti in 1972, recalled those historic days with remarkable clarity. “The memories are still vivid. The agreement was signed in the very same hall where the table is kept today,” he told The Indian Express. “Initially, this table was housed in the Viceroy’s Lodge (now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, or IIAS) before it was moved to Barnes Court following the suggestion of former President Dr S Radhakrishnan. I retired from Raj Bhavan in 1998, but the table was designated a heritage artifact soon after the 1972 signing.”

He added, “There were several dining chairs around the table—two attached to it and two set aside. However, it’s unclear whether those were used during the agreement.”

Barowalia also shared a lesser-known anecdote involving Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who accompanied her father to Shimla. “Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had arranged shopping excursions for Benazir Bhutto and instructed the Raj Bhavan staff to ensure she didn’t spend money from her own purse,” he said, reflecting on the softer, diplomatic undertones that accompanied the formal negotiations. Barowalia, who was the one to type the draft of the Simla Agreement, declined to share the details of the sequence of events in which the agreement was signed, terming those as “highly secret.”

Interestingly, a Raj Bhavan official informed The Indian Express that while both Indian and Pakistani flags originally adorned the table, the Pakistani flag was recently removed. “It was taken away well before the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which has further strained relations between the two nations,” the source said.

Even today, as geopolitical tensions simmer, the Simla Agreement table stands as a symbol of diplomacy, history, and the persistent hope for peace between India and Pakistan.