Anti-encroachment drive in historic city of Mehrauli

Anti-encroachment drive in historic city of Mehrauli

Subject: History

Section: Medieval India

Concept:

• The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) carried out an anti-encroachment drive in the nearby villages of Mehrauli and Ladha Sarai leaving hundreds of families in uncertainty about their future.

History of Delhi

• Purani Dilli, commonly referred to as Old Delhi, is a misnomer as the city’s history dates back to before the establishment of Shahjahanabad.
• The oldest evidence of habitation in Delhi, dating back to the Iron Age (around 1100-800 BC), is the painted grey ware fragments found in Purana Quila.
• Historians recognize seven cities of Delhi, from the 11th century onwards, namely Lalkot/Quila Rai Pithora/Mehrauli, Siri, Tughlaqabad, Firozabad, Shergarh (Old Fort), Shahjahanabad, and New Delhi.
• However, depending on what is considered a city, this number can be as high as 11.

City of Mehrauli

• Mehrauli is widely considered to be the oldest ‘city’ of Delhi and is the oldest area of the metropolis to be continuously inhabited.
• It was first built by a ruler called Anangpal II in the 11th century, and it was called Lalkot.
• Later, it was known as ‘Quila Rai Pithora’ and was fortified by the Chauhans.
• This was christened ‘Quila Rai Pithora’ by Mughal court historian Abu’lFazl in his epic hagiography, ‘Ain-i-Akbari’.
• The Mamluk dynasty took control of the city in 1192, and QutubudinAibak, the first ruler of the dynasty, built the Qutub Minarand the Quwwat-al-Islam mosque(oldest mosque in North India).
• In the following century, more buildings like tombs, step wells, palaces, and fortifications were constructed during the reigns of Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, and Alauddin Khilji.

Continued relevance and inhabitation

• Even as the newer cities came up and the seat of power shifted northwards, Mehrauli witnessed building activity as late as the Mughal and British periods.
• Due to its location on the lap of the Aravallis hills, the area was preferred as a summer retreat.
• Two Mughal summer palaces (Zafar Mahal and Jahaz Mahal) and a summer abode of Sir Thomas Metcalfe (Dilkhusha) are situated here.
• Mehrauli lay on a historic trade route, as the number of sarais (Ladho Sarai, Ber Sarai, Neb Sarai) around the area would suggest.
• Note :A sarai was a resthouse for weary travellers.

Cultural significance of Mehrauli

• Mehrauli is also a spiritual centre.
• Sufi saint HazratQutubuddinBakhtiar Kaki (1173 -1235 AD) was buried in the city and his dargah remains popular till date, across religious lines.
• Some historians cite the dargah as a reason for the city surviving the test of time – despite power shifting elsewhere, the dargah remained a revered destination for pilgrims far and wide.
• Historian Rana Safvi, in her book, ‘Where Stone Speaks’ talks about Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji’s (1290-1296) contribution to building the bazaar (market) in Mehrauli.
• Some of the markets still exist, though much smaller.
• Another spiritual centre for the community is the Yogmaya mandir, believed to be one of the oldest in the city.
• Yoginis (semi-divine deities) have been an integral part of Indian folklore and this temple dedicated to them is believed to have been constructed by the Pandavas.
• ‘Phool Walon ki Sair’ Festival :
• The cosmopolitan spirit and secular heritage of Mehrauli are perhaps best expressed in the annual community celebration of ‘Phool Walon ki Sair’ or Sair-e-Gulfaroshan (walk of the flowers).
• This 19th-century Mughal-era festival was revived in 1962 by India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and has become the symbol of the city’s communal harmony since then.
• The three-day festival includes processions and festivities led by shehnai players and dancers.
• An offering of pankhas(large floral fans) is made to the Yogmaya Temple and a chadar is offered at the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki.

Encroachments

• Like much of the rest of Delhi, the Partition brought many changes to Mehrauli too.
• Many refugees from the West found sanctuary here. The city has also seen sectarian tensions.