Millennium city over the ages

In the Mahabharata, Gurugram is described as the village of Guru Dronacharya, the guru of Kauravas and Pandavas. This village was given as dakshina by pandavas to guru Dronacharya. There are many sites here that locals believe connect to the era of the Mahabharata – a small temple in Khandsa village, which locals believe marks the spot where Eklavya cut his thumb; Bhima Kund, a pond where Guru Dronacharya is said to have bathed; and a temple dedicated to the guru himself. However, the most famous of them all is the Sheetla Mata Temple, which is dedicated to Kirpai, the wife of Guru Dronacharya, who lived in the village of Keshopur. She committed her life to the service of children suffering from smallpox.  

Sheetla (Sitla/Shitla) Mata Mandir

“Despite technological advancement, Gurugram as a city has been deeply attached to its root of the old ancient tradition.”

In late 4th century BCE, the city was absorbed by the Maurya Empire as part of Chandragupta Maurya’s earliest expansions of his kingdom. It was in Akbar’s reign in the second half of the sixteenth century that Gurgaon garnered some notice. Barely had Akbar and his regent, Bairam Khan, taken charge when they were attacked by a powerful Hindu foe, King Hemu, who hailed from Gurgaon pargana, born in the village of Rewari. By this time Hemu had become the dominant force in northern India and defeated the Mughal forces in Kannauj and in the Battle of Delhi in 1556, and came within a hair of wrestling the Mughal Empire in the next battle. During Akbar’s reign, Gurugram fell within the governing regions of Delhi and Agra. Many monuments were constructed during this period.Mughal era monuments such as Sheesh Mahal, Baoli and Jama Masjid built by Faujdar Khan are Dilli Darwaza (Delhi Gate) are notable structures. Badshahpur Qila, this fort dates back to the Mughal era. It served as the residence of one of the wives of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar who often came here to meet his begum. Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, built this mosque and sarai or rest house back in the 18th century when the Mughal King Mohammad Shah II was ruling Delhi. What makes this mosque stand out from other places of worship is that the mosque complex included a rest house as well as a well. The mosque and the sarai were built for travelers to rest for a while when passing through that route.

According to Veena Talwar Oldenburg, author of Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City (2018), this was a small, brick pavilion with classic Mughal arches where the emperor’s entourage used to stop for refreshment en route to Amber. Unfortunately, this piao, over 500 years old, was demolished to make way for the Guru Dronacharya Metro Station in 2009. How ironic! Since Gurgaon lay on the important route from Delhi to Ajmer, sarais, or rest houses, were constructed for the convenience of travellers. A remnant of that time still exists in the form of the Sarai and Mosque of Nawab Ali Vardi Khan, which was constructed in the 18th century during the reign of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah. As the Mughal empire started to decline, the place was torn between contending powers.

As the Mughal empire started to decline, the place was torn between late Mughals & Marathas. By 1803 most of it came under British rule through the treaty of Surji Arjungaon with Gwalior State.  It became a part of the district, which was divided into units called Parganas. These units were given to petty chiefs for the military service rendered by them.During the Mughal and initially during the British colonial era, Gurguram was just a small village in Jharsa pargana of Delhi subah. Report of a Tour in Eastern Rajputana in 1882–83 (published in 1885) by Alexander Cunningham, the then Director-General of Archaeological Survey of India, he mentions a stone pillar at Gurugram of a local feudal lord “Durga Naga” with a 3-line inscription “Samvat 729 or 928, Vaisakh badi 4, Durgga Naga lokatari bhuta” dating back to 672 AD or 871 AD. Aliwardi mosque” in Gurugram, “Badshahpur baoli” and ”Bhondsi” (16th to 17th century) were built during mughal and British era. The “Church of the Epiphany” and “Kaman Serai” (Corrupted form of the “Command Serai” or “Officer’s Mess”) was built by the Britishers in 1925 inside the civil lines. It is interesting to again see the contribution of the People of Gurugram (earlier Gurgaon) in the British military during World War I and the changing strategy of the British after that. This policy of ignoring Gurgaon district was modified after World War I, in which people of the district contributed substantially with manpower and money.  

The preservation of heritage and historical monuments was probably never Haryana’s priority. Haryana till date has no scientific or planned initiative to revive the lost heritage and preserve the available heritage to develop tourism opportunities.One of the many souvenirs of Gurugram’s forgotten history, the ‘sarai’ served as a resting place for travellers. The structure now is a dilapidated piece that has been mostly overlooked, and has been heavily encroached upon from all sides. Badshahpur village once had a fort built on 17 acres that has been lost to massive encroachments. All that exists today is a crumbled wall and a decrepit bastion. However, a slice of history remains in the form of a step-well. However, decades of neglect have damaged the building, which is now in disrepair. One of the walls has even slanted slightly, and some pillars have developed fractures. According to locals, if the wall is not provided external support, the entire building may collapse. Despite its strategic position, tourism in Gurugram sadly is all about new age marvels. No monument has properly been converted into a tourist spot or promoted as one, leading to poor visitors’ experience.

“Monuments are for the living, not the dead. Preserve them, love them and pass it on to generations to understand their importance.”

Ironically, the city may be just a few kilometres from Delhi (the hub of historical monuments of the country), it has failed to preserve, promote and value its own history and monuments. There is a need to look beyond the sheen of corporate towers and high-end neighbourhoods in Gurgaon so that what remains of the city’s glorious past is preserved. Collectively, the historic towns and remains around Gurugram present a wide range of heritage, ranging from the ancient to the Sultanate, Mughal, Rajput and colonial periods. The protection, thematic organisation and promotion of this cultural heritage could contribute significantly to heritage tourism in the city, besides boosting the local economy by creating new employment opportunities for them.  

Bibliography

• https://m-tribuneindia-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/haryanatribune/gurugram-s-forgotten-past-774745?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16304018827762&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tribuneindia.com%2Fnews%2Farchive%2Fharyanatribune%2f Gurugram-s-forgotten-past-774745
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Gurgaon
• https://gurugram.gov.in/
• ANCIENT INDIA-A BULLETIN OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

Veena Talwar Oldenburg, : From Mythic Village to Millennium City  

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Hi, I’m Vishakha Chaudhary …

Samuel Ezekiel Divekar from Shaar Harahamim Synagogue

Sir Samuel was caught and imprisoned by the forces of Tipu Sultan of Mysore. When he feared that his death was near, he prayed with all his heart to be saved from the merciless soldiers and promised to build a place of worship if it had been so. Thus, he built the Shaar Harahamim Synagogue – the oldest synagogue of the Bene Israeli Jewish community of Mumbai, located in the Mandvi locality, on Samuel Street after he was released from captivity and thus plotted his name in the pages of history. Sir Samuel is flaunted in a traditional Israeli outfit with a jacket, trouser, well cut shoes and a hat. He also holds a sword which adds to the persona of the figure.  

2. Firoz Shah from Chauburji Masjid

Firoz Shah Tughlaq has always been known to be a magnificent builder with unconventional architectural design and also considered the father of the irrigation system in India for channelizing rivers to run water through canals to a large part of the country. as he aimed for the prolific development of his kingdom. The Chauburji Masjid was another marvel that he envisioned to be built and added to the Mughal heritage structures. He is adorned in the classic Mughal dress – known as jama with patka sash tied around the waist and pajama style pants. His jewellery is embellished with precious stones as well as his royal turban which is a state of pride for the Mughal sultans.  

3. Duke Fransesco Fosari from Chauburji Masjid

Duke Fransesco Fosari was one of the rare noble families that held a hereditary place in the Great Council of Venice after Serrata (“Closing”) of the Great Council, and had commenced to rise in fame throughout the 14th century. He had been a respected guest of Sultan Firoz Shah for his hunting expeditions also known as ‘Kushk-i-Shikar’. The style of dressing depicted here is an intricately gold detailed velvet gown and an embellished crown adorning his head. Feathers and silver linings are also used to make the outfit look more royal and elegant.  

4. Ruttonshi Mulji Jetha Fountain

Ruttonshi Mulji Jetha Fountain is a listed heritage structure erected in the year 1894 commissioned by Ruttonshi Mulji who was a cotton merchant and desired to honor the death of his only son who took his last breath at the age of 5. The statue of the small boy atop the fountain epitomizes the small boy namely Dharamsi Mulji. The dressing style here is kept simple with a dhoti-kurta combination though the figurine is showcased in a statue form.  

5. Zainab from the Hanuman Temple

Zainab is a 21^st century teenage Muslim girl who visits the Hanuman Temple with her friend Aisha and discovers significant information of how the Hanuman Temple came into being. She was enthralled with the architecture and how the structure still holds its glory. She has been depicted here in a modern sense of style with a hijab and a salwar combo.      

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Sayani Paul…