Table of Contents
The News
- This year’s Republic Day celebration was unusual. Apart from the parade, the scenes of protests on the ramparts of the Red Fort dominated the news channels.
- It was referred to as the “storming”, “breach”, or “raid” on red fort where some sikh farmers raised Nishan Sahib on the pole which is normally reserved for the hoisting of the national flag.
Delhi
- The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas.
- According to the Mahabharata, this land was initially a huge mass of forests called ‘Khandavaprastha’ which was burnt down by the Pandavas to build the city of Indraprastha.
Delhi
- The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period from around 300 BC.
- An inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273–235 BC) was discovered near Delhi in 1966.
- Remains of several major cities can be found in Delhi.
- It is said that, King Anang Pal of the Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in 736 AD in present day delhi.
- Prithviraj Chauhan conquered Lal Kot in 1178 AD and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora.
- Note: Before 13th Century Delhi or ‘Dilli’ was, a moderately significant town.
Delhi
- It was the conquest by Ghur Turks in the late 12th century that put Delhi on the map as a centre of power.
- Delhi gradually developed an aura of power after becoming Turk sultanate capital and later Mughal sultanate capital.
- Babur, after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526, headed for Delhi, which he described as “the capital of all Hindustan”.
Delhi
- Initially, during the Mughal rule, Agra was the capital but Mughals were seen as rulers of Delhi.
- Akbar has been referred “Dillishvara”, the lord of Delhi.
- Jahangir has been described as “Shahanshah e Dilli”, the emperor of Delhi.
- Note: Both Akbar and Jahangir mostly ruled from Agra and focused very little on Delhi.
Delhi
- It was only in the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-58) that the Mughal connection to Delhi was given concrete form.
- Shahjahan founded the city of Shahjahanabad.
- He inaugurated the palace citadel, the Red Fort, in 1648.
- From 1648 to 1857, Delhi remained the formal capital of the Mughal empire.
After Independence
- With the coming of Independence, it was necessary that the site of the Red Fort which was symbolic of British colonial seat be reclaimed for the Indian people.
- It was for this reason, that after the first hoisting of the national flag at India Gate on August 15, 1947, the next day, the PM Nehru chose to hoist national flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort.
- From that time, this has become India’s lasting Independence Day tradition.
The 26th January Protest Symbol
The 26th January Protest Symbol
- In March 1783, it is believed that, an army led by Baghel Singh & Co defeated the Mughal army and occupied the Red Fort and unfurled the Nishan Sahib, demonstrating their victory over the Mughal throne.
- It is also said that Sikhs detached the throne of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and brought it on elephants to Amritsar.
- Sikhs celebrate this as “Fateh Divas”..!!
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