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Purana Qila: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Purana Qila
The first word of this story is Purana Qila, a name that translates to Old Fort, yet it hides a secret far older than its red sandstone walls. Excavations beneath the ground have revealed continuous human habitation stretching back to 1000 BC, during the Painted Grey Ware period, making this site one of the few places in India where archaeological evidence and ancient literary traditions collide. For centuries, historians like Alexander Cunningham believed this was the legendary Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, a theory that persisted until the early 20th century when the complex was still known as Pandavon Ka Qila. The reality is far more complex, as coordinating material archaeological culture with bardic literature is methodologically almost impossible, yet the site remains a palimpsest of history where the ancient past and the medieval present exist in a tense, layered embrace. The fort was not built in a single day or by a single hand; it is the result of a chaotic, centuries-long construction project that began with Mughal emperor Humayun and was transformed by his rival, Sher Shah Suri, creating a citadel that would serve as the inner heart of the sixth city of Delhi.
The Rivalry That Built A City
The origins of the Purana Qila lie in the walls of Dinpanah, a new city of Delhi being constructed by Mughal emperor Humayun in the general vicinity of ancient Indraprastha ruins. Humayun laid the foundation of the city on a mound near the Yamuna river, and the construction of the walls and fortifications were almost finished by his time, according to the historian Muhammad Khwandamir. However, the narrative of the fort was violently interrupted when the founder of the Sur Empire, Sher Shah Suri, defeated Humayun and seized the unfinished project. Sher Shah did not destroy the fort; instead, he strengthened its fortifications and completed its walls, turning Humayun's vision into a reality that would outlast both of them. He also had another fort built there called Shergarh, where the governor resided, and his project was a continuation of Humayun's construction of a citadel for a royal city. The historical attribution of its construction remains uncertain, with primary sources offering conflicting accounts; Tarikh-i-Da'udi states that Sher Shah Suri's royal city remained incomplete upon his death, while Abbas Sarwani claims the two forts being constructed by him were unfinished. Salim Shah Suri later constructed a wall defending Dinpanah of Humayun, proving that the fort was a living entity, constantly evolving through the hands of its rulers, from Humayun's initial foundation to Sher Shah's aggressive completion and the subsequent additions believed to have been made even after his rule.
What is the historical origin of Purana Qila in Delhi?
Purana Qila originated as Dinpanah, a new city constructed by Mughal emperor Humayun near ancient Indraprastha ruins. The fort was later completed and strengthened by Sher Shah Suri after he defeated Humayun and seized the unfinished project.
When was Hem Chandra Vikramaditya crowned in Purana Qila?
Hem Chandra Vikramaditya was crowned in Purana Qila on the 7th of October 1556. This coronation marked a brief period of rule before the Mughals defeated him at the second battle of Panipat one month later.
How many Japanese civilians were interned at Purana Qila during the Asia-Pacific War?
By December 1942, there were 2,115 Japanese internees in the Purana Qila camp, the vast majority of whom came from Singapore. The camp housed over 2000 Japanese civilians including around 554 women and 224 children.
What happened to Purana Qila during the Partition of India in 1947?
During the Partition of India in August 1947, Purana Qila became a refuge camp for over 150,000 to 200,000 Muslim refugees migrating to Pakistan. The camp remained functional until early 1948, serving as a temporary home for hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
Who built the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque and when was it constructed?
Sher Shah Suri built the single-domed Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque in 1541 as a Jami Mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers. It is the best preserved building in Purana Qila and features early examples of the pointed arch in the region.
When did Humayun die at the Sher Mandal tower in Purana Qila?
Humayun fell from the second floor of the Sher Mandal tower on the 24th of January 1556 and died of his injuries two days later. The tower served as a personal observatory and library for Humayun before his death.
On the 7th of October 1556, the Hindu king Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, who had defeated Akbar's forces at the Battle of Delhi, was crowned in Purana Qila, marking a brief but significant moment in the fort's history. Hemu, as he was known, had defeated the Mughal forces and declared himself the ruler, but his coronation in the fort was short-lived. The Mughals would one month later decisively defeat Hemu and his army at the second battle of Panipat, ending his reign and returning the fort to Mughal control. This event transformed Purana Qila into the sixth city of Delhi, a title that reflects its status as a major urban center rather than just a military outpost. The fort flourished as a political and military hub, hosting the coronation of a king who would be remembered as a tragic figure in Indian history. The site was not merely a backdrop for these events; it was the stage where the fate of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire were decided, with the walls of the fort bearing witness to the rise and fall of rulers who sought to claim the throne of India.
The Shadow Of The Second World War
During the Asia-Pacific War, which lasted from 1941 to 1945, the Purana Qila was transformed into a site of internment for over 2000 Japanese civilians, including around 554 women and 224 children. Plans to intern Japanese living in British India, along with surveillance of persons of interest, were put into place from as early as July 1940, with preparations to open internment camps made from at least February 1941. After war broke out between Japan and the Allies later that year, Japanese civilians in India, along with those of other now-enemy nations, were joined in internment by civilians from various British colonial territories, including Malaya and Singapore. Two key civilian internment camps in India were Purana Qila, the Old Fort, in Delhi, and Deoli in the deserts of Rajputana. By December 1942, there were 2,115 Japanese internees, the vast majority from Singapore, in the Purana Quila camp outside Delhi. They were housed in tents that gave little protection from the cold in winter, or from temperatures that rose to 120 degrees in summer. The Japanese government protested that the food and the cooking, washing and sanitation facilities were inadequate, but the British dismissed this, claiming the Japanese were notoriously unable to cope with extremes of heat or cold. The fate of the Japanese in India threw a shadow over the whole business, and the British believed, with some justification, that the ill-treatment of Allied prisoners of war was a reprisal for this.
The Partition And The Refugees
During the Partition of India, in August 1947, the Purana Qila along with the neighbouring Humayun's Tomb became the site for refuge camps for Muslims migrating to newly founded Pakistan. This included over 12,000 government employees who had opted for service in Pakistan, and between 150,000 to 200,000 Muslim refugees, who swarmed inside Purana Qila by September 1947, when the Indian government took over the management of the two camps. The Purana Qila camp remained functional until early 1948, as the trains to Pakistan waited until October 1947 to start. The fort, once a symbol of imperial power and military strength, became a place of desperate human migration and displacement. The walls that had once protected rulers now sheltered those fleeing the violence of partition, creating a stark contrast between the fort's historical grandeur and the raw reality of human suffering. The site served as a temporary home for hundreds of thousands of people, a testament to the chaos and upheaval that accompanied the creation of two new nations. The fort's history during this period is a reminder of the human cost of political decisions, as the ancient walls bore witness to the tears and struggles of those who sought a new life in a foreign land.
The Mosque And The Library
The single-domed Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541, is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the true horseshoe-shaped arches. It was designed as a Jami Mosque or Friday mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers, and the prayer hall inside, the single-aisled mosque, measures 51.20m by 14.90m and has five elegant arched prayer niches or mihrabs set in its western wall. Marble in shades of red, white and slate is used for the calligraphic inscriptions on the central iwan, marks a transition from Lodhi to Mughal architecture. At one time, the courtyard had a shallow tank, with a fountain, and a second storey, accessed through staircases from the prayer hall, with a narrow passage running along the rectangular hall, provided space for female courtiers to pray, while the arched doorway on the left wall, framed by ornate jharokas, was reserved for members of the royal family. On a marble slab within the mosque an inscription reads: As long as there are people on the earth, may this edifice be frequented and people be happy and cheerful in it. Today it is the best preserved building in Purana Qila, standing as a testament to the architectural ingenuity of Sher Shah Suri. The Sher Mandal, named for Farid, who had tried to finish what was ordered by Babur but had died during the initial phase, was a double-storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone with steep stairs leading up to the roof. It was intended to be higher than its existing height, and its original builder was Babur who ordered the construction and was used as a personal observatory and library for his son Humayun, finished only after he recaptured the fort. Inside, there are remnants of the decorative plaster-work and traces of stone-shelving where, presumably, the emperor's books were placed. This was also the spot where, on the 24th of January 1556, Humayun fell from the second floor to his death. He slipped while hastening to the evening prayers, following his hobby of astronomical star gazing at the top of this private observatory. He fell headlong down the stairs and died of his injuries two days later. Entry inside the library is now prohibited, preserving the site as a place of historical memory rather than a tourist attraction.
The Stage For Modern Drama
In the 1970s, the ramparts of Purana Qila were first used as a backdrop for theatre, when three productions of the National School of Drama were staged here: Tughlaq, Andha Yug and Sultan Razia, directed by Ebrahim Alkazi. In later decades it has been the venue of various important theatre productions, cultural events, and concerts. Today, it is the venue of a daily sound and light presentation after sunset, on the history of the Seven Cities of Delhi, from Indraprastha through New Delhi. The fort has transformed from a military stronghold and a place of internment to a cultural hub, where the past and present converge in a celebration of art and history. The walls that once housed prisoners and refugees now echo with the sounds of music and the voices of actors, creating a unique atmosphere that blends the ancient with the modern. The fort's role in the cultural life of Delhi is a testament to its enduring significance, as it continues to serve as a place of learning and entertainment for the people of India. The Archaeological Survey of India carried out excavations at Purana Qila in 1954, 55 and again from 1969 to 1973 by B. B. Lal, and in 2013-14 & 2017-18 by Vasant Kumar Swarnkar, and its findings and artefacts are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum, Purana Qila. This includes Painted Grey Ware, dating 1000 BC, and various objects and pottery signifying continuous habitation from Mauryan to Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, Rajput, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods. The homes built during the Rajput era were built of bricks used in other structures and also mud bricks, and a fortification wall about 30 metre long was also found. During the Delhi Sultanate, structures were made from re-used bricks and over the ruins of earlier structures, and the Mughal era structures were characterized by a deep pit dug over those of the preceding eras. The excavations revealed three structural phases from Mughal era, including structures consisting of re-used bricks, rubble and lakhori bricks.