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Mahipalpur
Tughlaq-era 14th century monument
The Times of India, Nov 16 2015
Richi Verma
In S Delhi, a 14th century palace in ruins UNIQUE MONUMENT IN MAHIPALPUR FIGHTING RAVAGES OF TIME AND MAN'S GREED FOR SPACE
Mahipalpur village in south Delhi is home to a number of historical monuments. However, over the centuries, most of these buildings have either been obliterated or reduced to ruins.But, in the heart of this village still stands a Tughlaq-era mahal that has survived the test of time. The 14th century monument is testimony to the village's legacy of being one of the oldest in the city. The mahal, with its three broad arches and sandstone pillars, stands proudly in a corner but is capable of drawing many visitors, if only they were aware of its existence and location.
While the exact history of the mahal is unclear, the most popular theory is that it is one of the oldest structures in Mahipalpur and has been attributed to the Tughlaq period based on its architecture. It is believed to have been originally built as a hunting lodge but locals claim it was constructed by a famous zamindar called `Mahipal' after whom the area is named. The Tughlaq-era theory possibly stems from the existence of a `bund' close to the mahal built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq to retain water flowing in from neighbouring areas.
“The mahal is located on the highest point in the village which indicates it was an important building. Like other structures from this period, the building has walls with tapered ends, dressed sandstone pillars, carved brackets with a `chajja' above and vaulted ceilings. One of its most unique features, however, is the stone railing at the parapet level which can only be found elsewhere at Firoz Shah's tomb in Hauz Khas,“ said an expert.
At one point, the monument served as a makeshift school run by the village pan chayat. Today , it is used as a godown for construction material or for parking. Many stray animals have also made it their home.
While the monument is hemmed in from both sides by residential buildings, the roof is no longer accessible and is filled with debris and overgrown bushes. The structure is beginning to show signs of rapid deterioation in several places but locals are still hoping it can be conserved. “It would be a matter of great pride for the village if the mahal is conserved,“ said Anil Pradhan of the Mahipalpur Resident Welfare Association (RWA).The issue has also been raised by Bijwsan MLA Col Devendra Sherawat who said he has written several letters on the issue.
Interestingly, the mahal has not been overlooked by the government, though they are yet to take action. It was one of the original 92 monuments identified by state archaeology department and Intach for protection and conservation.
Currently , it is on the third list of monuments Intach has submitted to the archaeology department but there is no word on when work will begin. Tourism minister Kapil Mishra, who also heads the archaeology department, did not respond to calls. While the government is yet to get its act together to protect the structure, growing encroachments inside the mahal have conservationists worried.
Maldhar ( Mahaldar) Khan gardens
The Times of India, Jul 07 2015
Richi Verma
Mughal gateway crumbles under encroachment burden
Rapid urbanization and authorities' neglect seem to have caused irreparable damage to some of Delhi's heritage structures. An early 18th century gateway built by Maldhar Khan, Nazir during the reign of Mohammed Shah, collapsed in north Delhi on Sunday morning. It was one of the two gateways leading to the garden of Maldhar Khan, which has also disappeared over the years. The surviving structure is in a dilapidated state having seen no conservation work over decades. Both the gateways are located on GT Road, close to ASIprotected Tripolia gateways.Nobody was hurt when the structure collapsed on Sunday .One could only see rubble, debris and remains of the monument on Monday , with only some portions left standing.“It's fortunate no one was hurt when the building came tumbling down. We have never seen the authorities showing any interest to preserve this building, even though it dates back to 1710, said Vinod Bansal, who owns a shop adjacent to the collapsed gateway .
It is not clear which agency has jurisdiction over the monument. But encroachment is rampant in the area with many heritage structures being damaged by vandals and squatters. “I have been living here for many years. I used to pay rent for running my shop in the building to its owner. We knew the building was going to collapse as we saw small pieces of debris falling and noticed an unusual tilt to the monument early on Sunday .My shop has been closed as the whole building is declared dangerous now, said Niranjan Sharma, who had a telecommunications shop right next to the gateway entrance.
According to Intach Heritage listing, the double-height gateway was originally faced with red sandstone. The upper floor was taken over as a resi dence years ago, which is the only portion still standing.
The surviving gateway to the garden of Maldhar Khan, meanwhile, is also falling to pieces. Sources said both the gateways were surveyed and identified by the department of archaeology for conservation and protection under the Delhi Archeology Act. Experts said the delay in imple menting conservation measures had caused more damage to them. Officials from the department of archaeology did not respond to calls made by TOI.
Both structures also figure in the municipal corporation's list of notified heritage buildings. North Corporation commissioner P K Gupta said: “We'll have to look into the reasons of the collapse and determine the building's ownership. Action will be taken accordingly . The Maharana Pratap Bagh RWA has also written to the Delhi government over the collapse, accusing them of negligence.
“This historic building was heavily encroached upon.The department of archaeology failed to take action, which led to this, said Saurabh Gandhi, RWA president. On Monday , a team from ASI visited the site to assess whether the collapse had any effect on the Tripolia gateways.
Tripolia Gate(s)
As in 2024 Jan
Anuja Jaiswal, January 9, 2024: The Times of India
From: Anuja Jaiswal, January 9, 2024: The Times of India
Restoring Tripolia’s glory — one passageway at a time
New Delhi : The Archaeological Survey of India has started conservation work on one of the two 18th century triple-arched passageways called the Tripolia Gate at Rana Pratap Bagh in north Delhi. The work is likely to finish within three months.
Confirming the move, Praveen Kumar, superintending archaeologist (Delhi circle), said the plaster lining the wall of the gateway was weathered and the stone slabs had fallen off in parts.
The structure had sustained damages due to the movement of heavy vehicles in the area. Vehicles have now been prohibited from going past the central arch and have been rerouted through the other two arches. According to reports, container trucks have repeatedly rammed into the arches and even got stuck once causing significant damage to the structure.
In the late Mughal era, there was an inn called Gur-kiSarai on the road connecting Subzi Mandi with the present Delhi-Karnal Road. The historical Grand Trunk Road passed through the two triplearched gateways. Largely built of brick with some use of sandstone, the double set of three-arched gateways facing each other at just 250 metres are roofed by flat domes. Du ring the late Mughal period, the passageways served as the entrance to a large bazaar. These gates were built by Nazir Mahaldar Khan in 1728-29, as evident from two inscriptions on the structure, one over each gateway. Khan was superintendent of the women's quarter in the reign of Mughal emperor Muhammed Shah. Besides these two, no other historical gateway, apart from Kashmiri Gate, has more than one passage. Though the Gur Mandi gate, whose arches and side walls had been damaged, was repaired by ASI a few years ago, the gateway itself was left untouched because it was in a better condition at the time, said officials.
Matiala
A constitutional profile
2020
Jasjeev Gandhiok , January 17, 2020: The Times of India
From: Jasjeev Gandhiok , January 17, 2020: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Matiala assembly constituency has the highest number of electors, so whoever wants to capture that seat needs to appeal to a wide range — from middle- and upper-class voters in Dwarka’s urban setting to the economically lower sections in the over 20 rural communities. The candidate also has to pass muster with the cynical section among voters — the 18-19 year olds, who number the highest here among all assembly seats. In the relatively well-developed localities, issues like 24/7 supply of water and electricity, more green spaces and pothole-free roads are key concerns.
The sub-city, however, is not likely to be the deciding factor in an electoral victory because a bigger chunk of voters live in urban and rural villages. Adjacent to Dwarka is Kakrola, a village that is still pushing for development. Its residents look enviously at Dwarka’s posher sectors for ideal infrastructure and development. “People want to see improvements in our area too. Of course, slowly but surely, they are taking place. The progress in government schools is tremendous,” said Rekha Bhatt, a Kakrola housewife.
Deeper in the constituency in villages like Ghumanhera, Chhawla and Rewla Khanpur, the landscape changes dramatically. The urban sprawl of Dwarka is replaced by open mustard fields. And the electoral issues too are completely different: employment, sanitation and transport connectivity with the rest of the city.
Farmer Bharat Singh sits outside his house in Rewla Khanpur, enjoying the winter sun. The yellow spread of his mustard field is a heartening sight, but he rues the lack of economic opportunities for youngsters. “Working in fields is not lucrative, so it doesn’t tempt the new generation, least of all those who are educated,” said Singh. He said they were inclined to find urban jobs, but pointed out reaching the city was a task for them.
The constituency is currently represented by Aam Aadmi Party’s Gulab Singh Yadav, who won comfortably in 2015, leaving BJP’s Rajesh Gahlot and Congress’ Sumesh Shokeen in his wake. AAP government’s attempts to provide better healthcare and education, according to village voters, are appreciated because they did not have easy access to hospitals or medicines in the past.
Maulana Azad Road
Vice-president of India’s residence,1962 to 2024
Vivek Shukla, April 26, 2024: The Times of India
New Delhi: When you approach Maulana Azad Road from the busy Janpath, you see the sprawling Vigyan Bhawan and its annexe plus a third bungalow. 6 Maulana Azad Road isn’t just another Lutyens’ Delhi edifice. It was the official residence of the vice-president of India for 62 years from 1962 to 2024, till incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar moved into the newly created vice-presidential complex near North Block.
The road on which the old, colonnaded building was located was earlier called King Edward Road. India’s first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, lived in bungalow no. 4 on the road and after his death, the road itself was named after him. Azad’s ministerial residence was razed down to build the country’s first conference complex, Vigyan Bhawan and its neighbour was the vice-president’s residence.
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first vice-president to be allotted 6 Maulana Azad Road in 1962 and was followed by the galaxy of Dr Zakir Husain, Varahagiri Venkata Giri, Gopal Swarup Pathak, Basappa Danappa Jatti, Mohammad Hidayatullah, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Kocheril Raman Narayanan, Krishan Kant, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Mohammad Hamid Ansari and M Venkaiah Naidu, several of whom went to assume the top post of presi- dent. Kant was the only resident to die in office on July 27, 2002 According to Madan Thapliyal, the former director (information), New Delhi Municipal Council, almost all the bungalows’ in Lutyens’ Delhi were built before the new capital of British India was inaugu- rated on Feb 13, 1931. The white walled residences set among grassy lawns were designed by architect Rober Tor Russel under the watchful eyes of Edward Lutyens, the chief architect of New Delhi.
Russell also designed Connaught Place, Teen Murti Bhawan and Western and Eastern Court. At 6 Maulana Azad Road, or 4 King Edward Road as it was known around 90 years ago when the house was built, Tor provided garden space trees, and today it has among other species, pomegranate, which not many bungalows in the area have. People say that hundreds of parrots live there because the prefer jamun and pomegranate trees for their nest.
Maulana Umer Ilyasi, the head of All India Imam Association, also informed, “There is a small mosque on the complex at 6 Maulana Azad Road. Nobody knows when it was built. It remains closed during Ramzan.”
During the tenure of Shekhawat, the gates of the vice-presidential bungalow were opened to the masses. “Shekhawatji was down-toearth. A goof raconteur, he had all the time for his friends and well-wishers. Even during parliament sessions, he spared time for his guests and offered them tea and snacks,” recalled Dr Harish Bhalla, author and Delhi-based art connoisseur. Shekhawat, who lived in the bungalow from Aug 19, 2002, to July 21, 2007, wanted the public to see how the second highest constitutional autho- rity of the nation lived.
Ansari added another aspect to the bungalow during his tenure. Himself an acclaimed author, he gladly met young authors and allowed them to arrange the book release functions there. When veteran politician, Venkaiah Naidu, became vice-president, almost every day, he performed yoga with some members of his staff on the verdant lawns. “Mr Naidu spent more than an hour in his daily yoga exercises,” revealed a former member of the vice-president’s office.
6 Maulana Azad Road is now consigned to history after serving as the residence of the vice-president of India for more than six decades. On the site, a high-rise will come up to accommodate various central govt ministries as per the central vista redevelopment plan.
The parrots and other birds that have built their nests on the trees on the complex will perhaps fly away and find new abodes. The constant squawking will cease. History will be silenced.
(Vivek Shukla is author of Gandhi’s Delhi and Dilli ka Pehla Pyar Connaught Place)
Mayapuri
Scrap market
The Times of India, Sep 05 2016
Paras Singh
Four decades after it was shifted to its current location, Asia's biggest scrap market is a picture of apathy
Cramped, congested and polluted: these three words best describe Mayapu ri -Asia's biggest scrap market. While some call it a cremation ground for superannuated vehicles, for others, it's a recycling hotspot where at least some of the parts come back to life.
It's difficult to imagine that this cramped site was at the centre of a major decongestion drive in 1975.A majority of traders at Mayapuri have their roots in Motia Khan, while others have been relocated from Turkman Gate, Anand Parbat and Shahdara. Recalled, Harbans Singh, an aging trader: “We were pushed out forcefully during the monsoons of 1975 (the year India had its brush with Emergency) and relocated here; we were told to either fill up the forms (agreeing to vacate the place) or go to jail.“ He added: “It was raining heavily; we were literally thrown here, on this undeveloped land with no water, roads or power. We erected tin sheds to survive the vagaries of the weather. We were devastated in 1947 and, then, again in 1975.“
Four decades on, Mayapuri boasts of a turnover of over Rs 6,000 crore, dealing in pretty much everything that's scrap -from children's bicycles to army trucks, train and airplane parts, ball bearings, and so on. In a matter of a few hours, any vehicle that comes to this scrap market is reduced to its constituent parts. There are more than 4,000 scrap-trading units here, specialising in buses, tractors, army trucks and jeeps.
Despite the high stakes in volved, the basic infrastructure here is in a shambles. The roads, especially in the inner blocks, are non-existent. There's virtually no sewerage; whatever drains are there have been choked with scrap ings. A slight drizzle is enough to flood the area with sludge.
Encroachments were so rampant that there was hardly any space left to occupy, said residents.Some traders objected to TOI taking pictures of the area as they claimed that it would only give the corporation officials an excuse to demand more money from them.Said a trader, on the condition of anonymity: “Parks have been turned into godowns. Civic officials charge money for using these spaces. It's become a business.“
Meena Bazaar
As in 2018
From: Richi Verma, Meena Bazaar not going anywhere, planned site to have heritage park, November 27, 2018: The Times of India
15-YEAR WAIT ENDS IN STATUS QUO: Several Agencies Object To Relocation Of Market
The agency responsible for implementing the revamp of the Jama Masjid area has dropped the idea of relocating the historic Meena Bazaar after having mooted the idea 15 years ago. The plot near the Parade Ground parking that was supposed to have sited the market is, in any case, being developed into a heritage park.
According to Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), some stakeholders, among them the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Delhi Waqf Board, had objected to the market’s relocation. “The north corporation claimed the relocation was against Master Plan Delhi 2021 and that construction activity was not allowed within 300 metres of Red Fort,” a project official said. “DDA expressed doubts about the ownership of the plot involved, while the Shahi Imam said the plan would unnecessarily displace the Meena Bazaar traders and cause chaos.”
Meena Bazaar is believed to be as old as Jama Masjid and was once visited by the Mughal royalty and the nobility for jewellery, silk and embroidered textiles. Today, it’s a cluttered market selling from garments and hardware and automobile spares. “Relocation is a very sensitive topic with most shop owners. Even those who want to shift in the belief it will be better for business have been warned not to be vocal,” confided a trader.
The north corporation is setting up a heritage park on the plot in question. Union sports minister Vijay Goel has set aside Rs 5 crore for the park from his MPLAD funds, and insist that none of the stakeholders were “consulted about the relocation of Meena Bazaar” and that there was “no need to shift the market at all”. He added, “The redevelopment plan itself should be re-examined.”
Officials associated with the plan, however, contested Goel’s claim. “The plot belongs to the north corporation and the redevelopment of the area was planned with the civic body’s approval. How could they not have known that this land was proposed for Meena Bazaar’s new location?” wondered an official.
Sources alleged the construction of the heritage park began without proper approvals and that PWD and SRDC weren’t consulted either. After work was halted by Delhi high court, it is learnt that SRDC will now inform the court that the construction had been approved after considering the stakeholders’ views. Work is expected to resume shortly.
The area redevelopment plan itself came in the high court’s scanner in 2004, when a PIL was filed about the degrading conditions around the 17th-century mosque. Hearing the petition, the court had ordered authorities to redevelop Jama Masjid and its precincts, spreading over 23 acres. A plan for this was approved by the court two years later
Mehram Nagar
Mehram Khan’s garden
Anuja Jaiswal, August 12, 2023: The Times of India
From: Anuja Jaiswal, August 12, 2023: The Times of India
New Delhi: The Delhi state archaeology department has started conservation work at the 17th century garden of Mehram Khan, comprising two gumtis, near Mehram Nagar village, a few miles from IGI airport. The garden is home to several Mughal era ruins and its renovation comes ahead of the G20 Summit next month. The garden, which had turned into a jungle with wild shrubs everywhere, has been cleaned. The repair and conservation of two gumtis inside the garden has started and is likely to be finished by the end of this month.
Since the garden is near the airport, it will be illuminated at the front to highlight to G20 delegates its heritage value. In 2016, the department of archaeology, in collaboration with INTACH, started the conservation work and rebuilt one of the two missing gateways and dug out a small tank with a water channel. The work was discontinued in May 2017 after a dispute bet- ween the state archaeology department and the defence ministry over permission of starting conservation work there. Though the land belongs to the ministry, the structures are on the protected monuments’ list of the sta- te archaeology department, officials said.
According to officials, the garden was made in the late Mughal period and enclosed by rubble masonry walls with octagonal bastions at the northeast and north-west. Its corners are topped with chhatris.
On the north, east and west sides are the remains of baradaris in an advanced stage of decay, while at the north-west is a ruined building, said to have been connected to a well from which water was raised by means of a Persian wheel. The only entrance to the garden was through the north gate of the katra to which it seems to have been originally attached.
Historians said the garden was named after the Mughal courtier, Mehram Khan, a eunuch who was in charge of the Mughal harem. It belongs to the period of emperor Shahjahan. The word ‘mehram’ has an Arabic origin, meaning a close escort and confidant, who can freely talk to and meet women in the king's harem.
According to an Archaeological Survey of India listing the Garden of Mehram Khan was situated near Mehram Nagar village, which is at present near Palam Airport terminal 2.
Mughal architecture
Mughal courtier’s lost garden
Historic ruins at Mehram Nagar are disappearing and may not stand the test of time for long
Richi Verma | TNN
The Times of India 2013/07/22
The minute you drive out of Indira Gandhi International Airport, you pass Mehram Nagar. Only the cognoscenti know it’s home to ruins of a lost era.
A gateway, a mosque, an enclosing wall, a katra and an authentic Mughal garden—all in various stages of dilapidation and decay—stand testimony to the historicity of the settlement set up in mid-17th century and named after Mughal courtier Mehram Khan.
Only one of the three gateways to the 17th-century Mughal sarai stands today. One other vanished decades ago and remnants of the third can be seen between a cluster of shops and houses. The surviving gateway is an imposing double-storey structure with pointed arch openings enclosed by a cusped arch façade. The side bays have been encroached by shopowners but the fact that the wooden gates are buried at least two feet deep stands testimony to their age. A few feet away, construction work for a Metro station is on full swing.
Some distance away lie remains of the sarai wall. Portions of it can be seen inside the village interspersed by new constructions and houses. Made of rubble masonry, the wall is six metres high and crowned by battlements and vaulted chambers. A significant chunk of the western wall vanished several years ago when a road was laid between Mehram Nagar and a large green area on the other side. A parking lot being built adjacent to the southern wall has taken a toll.
The farmland on the opposite side of Mehram Nagar, is owned by the defence ministry. It houses portions of the enclosing wall and a baoli and is known as Mehram Khan’s garden. The ruins stand forgotten, made inaccessible by thick foliage and dense vegetation.
Yet they can be conserved to make Mehram Nagar a prime tourist attraction especially as it’s located so close to the airport, say experts.
The state archaeology department has identified some of the ruins for conservation and protection in Phase III of a project, the MoU of which has been signed by Intach and Delhi government (Phase II is yet to take off), but “in the meantime, the government should keep a tab and ensure the ruins do not fall prey to urbanization. With so much construction work happening around Mehram Nagar, the ruins could disappear completely”, an official said.
Mehram Khan
Mehram Khan was a powerful noble in the courts of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb
Mehram Nagar village, opposite the domestic airport, was established during his reign
Here, ruins of gateways, mosque, katra and enclosure wall are found
Only one out of three old gateways still survives. The imposing wooden doors are similar to those at Red Fort
Portions of the eastern and southern walls that surrounded Sarai Mehram Nagar still exist
Construction work by Delhi Metro and an upcoming parking lot threaten the ruins
None of the structures are protected, though they have been identified for conservation and protection by the state archaeology department.
Renovation, 2017
Richi Verma, History uncovered: Mughal-era ruins get makeover, Feb 8, 2017: The Times of India
Just as an aircraft takes off from Indira Gandhi International Airport, those peering out from the windows can see the village of Mehram Nagar. Yet it is not just another unauthorised settlement that is so common across the expanse of the capital. The village is the site of an ensemble of Mughal-era ruins, and as the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and Delhi government's archaeology department painstakingly clear away the overgrowth, they are unveiling newer aspects to the 17th century structures there.
A gateway , mosque, enclosing wall, in fact a whole katra, or a settlement, and an authentic Mughal garden -all in various stages of decay -speak of the history of Mehram Nagar, first set up as a habitation in the mid-17th century and named after Mughal courtier Mehram Khan. The Archaeological Survey of India has already certified a darwaza (doorway) there as having been built by Mughal emperors Shah Jahan and his son Aurangzeb in the 1660s. Not surprisingly, conservationists say Mehram Nagar can be promoted as a tourist spot, especially due to its proximity to the airport. Despite the ravages of ti me, most of the edifices have fortunately survived. Just a few have fallen victim to the urban sprawl. For three months now, work on the gar den and katra have uncovered many structures under the unkempt foliage.
“There was such dense vegetation that one could on ly catch glimpse of the katra and garden,“ said an INTACH official.
The project team has found large parts of the katra still standing. Three garden pavilions have also been exposed, but a possible fourth may lie hidden in the area barricaded by Delhi Metro for its construction work.
“We have uncovered chambers, arches and plaster work with fine traces buried under the vegetation,“ said the official.
Excavation also helped unearthed new structures, including toilets and canopies. “We dug up a small tank with a water channel,“ said an official. “Since we have only excavated a small portion of the garden, we don't know yet where the water channel leads to.“
The conservation of the garden and katra is part of a collaboration between INTACH and Delhi government on preserving 18 monuments in Phase III of a scheme to protect and restore unprotected historical edifices. While the area has caught the attention of conservationists, it may , however, be too late to save the gateways to the Mughal hub. Only one of the three gateways stands today . One vanished decades ago and the remnants of the third can be espied among a cluster of shops and houses. Unless rescued, it too could be lost before soon.
Defence ministry claims the land
Richi Verma, March 25, 2018: The Times of India
From: Richi Verma, March 25, 2018: The Times of India
From: Richi Verma, March 25, 2018: The Times of India
From: Richi Verma, March 25, 2018: The Times of India
From: Richi Verma, March 25, 2018: The Times of India
The Mehram Nagar village was set to be Delhi’s newest tourist destination. Located a few miles from IGI Airport, the village is home to several late Mughal ruins. These were being conserved by Intach Delhi Chapter and the Delhi government’s department of archaeology.
But now, the project has hit a roadblock as the ministry of defence has objected to the work as the ruins are on its land.
A gateway, mosque, enclosing wall, a whole katra or a settlement, and an authentic Mughal garden—all in various stages of decay—speak of the rich history of Mehram Nagar. It came up in mid-17th century and was named after a Mughal courtier named Mehram Khan.
Archaeological Survey of India has already certified a doorway as having been built by Mughal emperors Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb in the 1660s. Not surprisingly, conservationists say Mehram Nagar can be promoted as a tourist spot, especially due to its proximity to the airport.
Despite the ravages of time, most of the edifice has fortunately survived. A few have fallen victim to the urban sprawl, but excavations also unearthed new structures like toilets and canopies. “We dug out a small tank with a water channel. Since we have only excavated a small portion of the garden, we don’t know yet where the water channel leads to,” said an official.
But the project was stalled in May last year. “We are trying to resolve the issue with the ministry. Our job is to conserve these monuments so that more and more people come here. We are hoping for a resolution at the earliest,” said a senior Delhi government official.
Intach officials said they needed at least six months more to complete the work. “Only some of the pavilions have been restored; a lot more has to be done,” said an official.
The conservation is part of Phase III of a scheme that entails preservation of 18 monuments that are unprotected. So far, over two dozen nearly forgotten monuments have been conserved and opened to public.
At Mehram Nagar, though, only one of the three original gateways stands today. But unless rescued, this too could vanish.
Mehrauli
Zafar's summer palace
The Times of India, Sep 03 2015
Richi Verma
Last Mughal king's summer palace fights losing battle against squatters Located in the overcrowded Mehrauli village in south Delhi, emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar's summer palace continues to reel under government apathy and neglect. Zafar Mahal is a relic from the last days of Mughal rule. It is also one of the few monuments that were declared national heritage by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the 1920s. But encroachment is now posing a serious threat to the very existence of the structure with surrounding buildings slowly eating up its space. The once lavish courtyard has shrunk to less than half of its original size. A brick wall has come up in the open space, which acts as support for nearby buildings. Por tions of the ASI-protected monument have been vandalized too.
According to historians, it used to be a huge palace and what is now visible is just a fraction of its original size. “Zafar Mahal was a summer retreat. The monument used to sit within a large open space with several acres of land around it. As the village grew and more and more houses were built, locals started fighting for space. Some of the palace's archi tectural columns and Shahjahani arches were broken and sold off. Houses kept expanding closer and closer to the monument itself, said an expert. Evidence of the monument walls being broken can be seen in the courtyard where large stone slabs have been dumped in a corner. The 100-metre prohibitory rule doesn't even exist for the residents who have been build ing additional floors over the years, some of which are on top of the monument's surface itself. ASI had proposed setting up a Mughal museum here a few years ago. The plans, however, still re main on paper. ASI officials said it was difficult to preserve monu ments like Zafar Mahal due to their location inside urbanized villages. “The encroachments and new buildings started coming up in the 1980s and 1990s and they kept growing because ASI turned a blind eye to all these,“ the expert added.
Members of the Mughal family like Shah Alam Bahadur Shah-I (second son of Aurangzeb) and Shah Alam-II (son of Alamgir-II) were buried here. The mahal was originally built by Akbar-II, but it was his son, Bahadur Shah Zafar, who constructed the grand gate and added it to the palace in the mid 1800s.
Behind the palace ruins, there is a “house“ belonging to Mirza Babur, Bahadur Shah's brother.
Located behind Zafar Mahal, it can be reached through a maze of tiny lanes. Called “Babur Mahal“ by the locals, it houses over a dozen fami lies now. The foliated arches and floral patterns are still visible in the building. Each room in the original house has become individual dwellings for families and each family has modified the space according to its requirements.
“My grandfather used to live here, and the house has been passed on to us. We know that the house is about 200 years old, but we do not know the history behind it, said Ratna Singh, one of the residents.
Meena Bazar
Sale of sacrificial animals
See graphics, 'Sacrificial animals on sale at Meena Bazar ahead of Eid uz Zuha, 2017-I’
‘Sacrificial animals on sale at Meena Bazar ahead of Eid uz Zuha, 2017-II’
From The Times of India, August 31, 2017
From The Times of India, August 31, 2017
Millennium Depot
Mohammedpur village
Teen Burj, unknown tomb
The Times of India, Aug 28 2015
Richi Verma
Tale of two historic neighbours now eaten by a concrete jungle
The residents of Moham medpur village are a proud lot. The urban vil lage located amid an up scale area in south Delhi boasts of development and a rapidly-expanding infrastructure. But while this urbanization is altering its whole veneer, two of the village's monuments are going into oblivion.New buildings are cropping up at an alarming rate and absorbing every available space, suffocating the two structures. One of these is a magnificent three-domed structure called the Teen Burj. The national monument tag has clearly failed to keep squatters at bay.
Adjacent residential buildings touch the outer façade of the monu ment, while some parts of the structure were allegedly demolished by builders a few years ago.The front potion of the monument serves as a parking area, blocking access to the monument.
Deeper inside the village is a 16thcentury Lodhi-era tomb with an unusual dome. Historians say the hemispherical fluted dome is not very common in Lodhi structures in Delhi and this sets the monument apart.However, one wonders at the selection policy of ASI, which declared Teen Burj a national monument but left out this tomb, just a few metres away, open to vandalism, misuse and encroachment.“There is no protection to the monument despite being in the prohibited zone of Teen Burj. Locals don't care because they know ASI will not do anything, an expert said.
This unknown tomb can be accessed only from two sides, the rest blocked by the adjoin ing houses. The sole entrance on the north side has been locked by the owners of one of the houses and used as a godown. The balconies of the houses around touch the dome and these are expanding rapidly. The area around the dome is also used for dumping garbage.
The decorative elements in the tomb have vanished and the existence of the two masonry graves in side it remains a mystery as the access is restricted here too.
Locals said the tomb is being used as a godown for years with no one protesting. “The government doesn't care about these buildings, so why can't we use them?“ said a nearby resident.
The tomb, though, has not been completely overlooked by the government. It figures among the 92 monuments listed by the state archaeology department for conservation and pro tection. However, it's a different story as to how the department of archaeology will conserve this monument.
