Irrespective of how much a city is cosmopolitan and urbanized, every city
has some quiet forgotten corners for offbeat enthusiasts. Inside one of the most unban enclaves of Delhi, Hauz Khas, stand 2 intriguing monuments - perfectly secluded and tucked away within a quiet residential neighbourhood.
First one is Chor Minar, which literally means “Tower of
Thieves”. Built in 13th century during the reign of Alauddin
Khalji from 1290-1320. Tower is a minaret-like structure with 225 holes, which arouse curiosity as anyone
approaches the minaret.
Apparently, the holes were meant to display the severed
heads of the thieves, criminals, rebels and Mongol prisoners. This might have been an administrative philosophy of Khilji - justice on the spot, public punishment to express assertion of control. Very soon the curiosity turned into a strange feeling.
However, depending on your interpretation the objective
behind the Chor Minar may be regarded as uncompromising law enforcement, rule with
iron fist or a chilling testimony to the medieval penal practices. There is a staircase inside the minaret, however access has been closed due to reported suicide attempts.
Chor Minar is one of those monuments that retrieve fear pangs from the past, while defining means of governance and power psychology in Medieval India. While celebrating glory we should not forget the horrors of the past. Nearby residents have often told of hearing screaming voices at night and at times headless images, which disappear soon. Perhaps the trauma of this execution tower is still clinging around.
Few steps from Chor Minar is the 2nd monument, Idgah, a
long and high wall for offering congregational prayers on special occasions
like Eid. Idgah structure goes back to early 15th century and was built
by Tughlaqs – a thick all and minimal or no ornamentation.
Construction of Idgah was post one of the most brutal and
darkest time in history of Delhi. In 1398, a fierce battle took place in now
Hauz Khas area between Tughlaq Sultanate of Delhi and Timur (Tamarlane). Timur
routed the Tughlaq forces and devastated Delhi with over 1,00,000 civilians
killed and wealth plundered all in a couple of weeks. Timur departed India as
soon with all the wealth as rapidly as he had arrived, like another of his typical
brutal campaigns. Historians attribute Timur to be the cause of death of around
5% of the world’s population in those times.
Post the unimaginable horrors unleashed by Timur on the population
of Delhi, this Idgah structure was built by Mallu Iqbal Khan in 1404-05, a
nobleman and almost a ruler of Delhi under Muhammad Shah. Only staircase in the monument -
To summarize: Both monuments stand alone and overlooked
but the lessons should not be ignored to avoid horrors of the past. Keep
exploring folks...
