Ok I figured out the problem!
There was nothing wrong with the code or wordpress. My web host provider decided to change the IP address of my account without even notifying me. So all this time I was uploading the files on my old FTP address. That was the reason no changes were showing up on the site.
I have now wasted almost my full day trying to figure this out and makes me want to give a real hard kick up the balls of my provider…