A visionary voice in the field of journalism, Upendra Rai, CMD, Bharat Express Group, graced Bharat Film Festival 2.0 with his powerful presence.

Living in L'Enfant's Dream

Just out here searching for one thing, finding something else entirely. Again.

NBC4 (local D.C. television station) did a recent segment on L’Enfant’s life and legacy — featuring his biographer Scott Berg (a familiar face around here) and a Library of Congress reference librarian showcasing his original plans.

It was good to see Berg not on a dark stage this time — no archival lecture lighting, no grainy academic footage. Just sunlight, D.C. trees, and the geometry of the capital behind him. Like history stepped outside for a breath.

This is entry-level stuff but it keeps L’Enfant visible. Present.

HOWEVER.

We’re still stuck with the thing.

The same tired narrative: “He was brilliant, but difficult.”

It never ends.

As if artistic integrity is a flaw, or having a vision and protecting it is a public relations problem.

We keep making these documentaries and articles where he’s politely dragged. Soft-slandered. "Genius, but." Where his antagonists are upheld, not him.

I worked in D.C. for years, some of them spent deep in the world of copyright and intellectual property.

L’Enfant may not have had legal protection, but he knew what his work was worth. So did his assistant, Isaac Roberdeau. They tried to defend it — the plans, the ideas, the meaning. They lost.

What would it cost to frame it like this instead:

“Of course he was difficult — wouldn’t you be, if your work was constantly questioned by people with less vision, less education, less skin in the game?”

“Of course it was hard — he was making something no one else had the nerve to imagine and his legacy was at stake.”

“Yes, he had edges. But he wanted to give this new country something beautiful. His father served a king; he chose a republic. That says everything.”

There is, at least, a moment of grace at the end. Berg says: “You still feel like you're living in L’Enfant's dream.”

And you do. That’s the legacy.

Dr. Anirudh Gupta

Explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Anirudh Gupta, CEO of DCM Group of Schools and Visionary Leader of the Year 2026, recognized for driving educational innovation, digital transformation, and future-ready learning in India.

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The Mind Behind the Innovation: Sharat Nalamothu