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⇨ Mehrauli is the oldest ‘city’ now we call it Delhi and it has been built and rebuilt for centuries.
⇨ This week, hundreds of families were left with an uncertain future following five days of continuous demolition as part of an anti-encroachment drive by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in the adjacent villages of Mehrauli and Ladha Sarai.
⇨ The demolishing authorities claimed that the houses encroached on government land – belonging to the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
⇨ What we today know as Purani Dilli (Old Delhi) is actually a misnomer. The city’s history far predates Shahjahanabad, with the oldest evidence of habitation – painted grey ware fragments found in Purana Quila – dating back to the Iron Age (circa 1100-800 BC).
⇨ Historians identify seven cities of Delhi, dating from the 11th century onwards: Lalkot/Quila Rai Pithora/Mehrauli, Siri, Tughlaqabad, Firozabad, Shergarh (present-day Old Fort), Shahjahanabad, and New Delhi.
⇨ Mehrauli has witnessed multiple cycles of building and rebuilding over the centuries. First founded as Lalkot in the 11th century by Anangpal II, a ruler of the Rajput Tomar dynasty.
⇨ This was later christened ‘Quila Rai Pithora’ by Mughal court historian Abu’l Fazl in his epic hagiography, ‘Ain-i-Akbari’.
⇨ This city passed hands from the Tomars to the Chauhans, who are credited to have further fortified the complex.
⇨ The city fell into the hands of the Mamluk dynasty (Slave dynasty) in 1192. Qutubudin Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave dynasty, the next round of construction began in the area.
⇨ He began building the Qutub Minar to commemorate his victory and the Quwwat-al-Islam (Might of Islam) mosque, the oldest known mosque in north India.
⇨ India’s oldest mosque – Cheraman Juma – was built by Arab merchants in Kerala.
⇨ India’s oldest mosque – Cheraman Juma – was built by Arab merchants in Kerala.
⇨ 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.
⇨ In her book, she also mentions a Madhi Masjid, earlier known as Mandiwali Masjid, and suggests that perhaps there was a wholesale mandi of grains nearby which disappeared and the name Mandi became Madhi over the course of time.
⇨ Sufi saint Hazrat Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (1173 -1235 AD) was buried in the city.
⇨ The Yogmaya mandir - 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.
⇨ 19th-century Mughal-era festival in the Mehrauli is perhaps best expressed in the annual community celebration of ‘Phool Walon ki Sair’ or Sair-e-Gulfaroshan (walk of the flowers).
⇨ In 1962 India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru revived the festival, and has become the symbol of the city’s communal harmony since then.
