Delhi : A Transition through Time - As you walk
along the narrow bylanes of this city of dreams, tread softly.
Every crumbling wall has a story to tell. Every yesterday is
replete with history. Rulers have come and gone. The city has
lived through wars and resurrection, repeatedly rising from
the ashes.
Cradling civilisations since times immemorial
Delhi goes back hundreds of thousands of years back into time
Stone tools belonging to early stone age were
discovered from the Aravalli tracts in and around Anangpur,
the Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, the northern ridge and
elsewhere - evidence that the Early Man lived here.
Excavations at Mandoli and Bhorgarh in east
and north-west Delhi respectively have thrown up remains of
chalcolithic period dating back to 2nd millennium BC, 1st millennium
BC as well remains of 4th-5th century AD have been traced here.
The excavations of the ancient mound of Indraprastha,
capital of the Pandavas, located withing the fold of the sixteenth
century Purana Qila revealed evidence of continuous habitation
of the site for almost 2500 years.
According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas founded
their capital Indrapratha in the region known as Khandava-prastha.
Delhi was also witness to the glories of the Maurya Empire during
3rd century BC. The Ashokan edict engraved on a rock in East
of Kailash as well as remains found in Purana Quila excavations
belonging to the Mauryan period point to Delhi's importance
during this era.
The first city of Delhi, Lal Kot was founded
by the Tomar ruler Anangpal, in the 11th century. It was extended
to Qila Rai Pithora by King Vigraharaja IV (Circa 1153-64).
Qutbuddin Aibak became Delhi's first Sultan in 1206 and laid
the foundations of the Qutb Minar, India's tallest stone tower
at the site of the first city of Delhi subsequently the kings
of the Sultanate dynasties, Khaljis, Tughluqs Sayyids and Lodis
continued to build. New cities as Delhi grew.
The second city around Siri by Alaud-Din Khalji
(1296-1316); Tughlaqabad, the third city built by Ghiysud-Din
Tughlug (1321-51); Firuzabad, the fifth city of Delhi, is now
represented by Kotla Firuz Shah, founded by Firuz Shah Tughluq
(1351-88).
It was Humayun who laid the foundations of the
sixth city - Dinpanah. This was destroyed and reconstructed
as the Purana Qila by Sher Shah Suri however, it was the Mughals
who took Delhi to the zenith of architectural glory.
While some construction activities did continue
during the reign of Akbar (1556-1605) and Jehangir (1605-27),
it was Shah Jehan (1628-58) who built the seventh city, Shahjahanabad
which remained the Mughal capital until 1857.
The British in 1911 shifted the capital of India
to Delhi. The eighth city of New Delhi took shape in the imperial
style of architecture. From then to now Delhi continues to throb
with vitality and hop.
The ruins and ramparts still stand tall in dignity
- and amidst them rise modern buildings and giant skyscrapers.
It's a breathtaking synthesis of yesterday and tomorrow, the
holding on to the past and surging ahead to the furture.
