MY OWN QUTAB MINAR!

Qutab Minar has always been sort of just a landmark down the lane for me. It's just my friendly next door neighborhood monument! It has always been a beautiful historical structure, which I saw everyday on my way out of Sainik Farms. Just as one takes everyday things for granted, it never struck me that I should one day actually visit this place like a tourist. It was always there, so I knew that I could see it anytime. In fact my parents had brought us to Delhi, long long ago from a back of the beyond Colliery of Bhurkunda in Bihar. We had then seen the Qutab Minar. We had actually run up the stairs and climbed up to the 1st level and seen Delhi from there, which was spread out and was beautiful.

Calligraphy, beautiful perfection!

Now, it just so happened that my daughter and her phirang children came visiting us last December. My daughter an out and out Dilliwali, wanted her children to imbibe the spirit of this lovely city and learn all about its history. Which better place could there be than our next door friendly monument to take a walk down History lane? We therefore set out without much ado. The trip turned out to be quite interesting and educative, and  from then on I could see my giant of a neighbor in it's true magnitude.

This magnificent tall dark and beautiful piece of architecture, a World Heritage site was built in 1193 by Qutab ud din Aibak the first ruler of the Slave dynasty. It was completed in 1230 AD.Qutab is situated in the first City of Delhi. This is where stood Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora. Lal Kot was founded by the Tomars and Qila Rai Pithora belonged to Prithviraj Chauhan of Sanyogita fame.

The masjid with temple pillars.

Well, so after Mohd Ghori won over Delhi, from Prithviraj Chauhan, he left his slave Qutab Ud din Aibak of Turk origin to rule the place. This slave to commemorate the Victory of his Master, quickly plundered a number of Jain and Hindu temples and started the construction of a huge Minar. He died around the time the first storey was completed and the next 2 storey’s were made by his son in law Iltutmish or Altamush.

The Slave Dynasty ruled from 1206 to 1290. Some well known rulers of this dynasty were Altamush, Razia Sultan, and Balban. After the Slave dynasty came the Khiljis.

The majestic minar!

I now wonder how advanced were the people of those times who could construct such magnificent structures, which were beautiful, majestic and withstood the test of time. Today we have a plethora of colleges which churn out Architects and Engineers, but is there a building which stands out for its beauty and majesty today, which will still stand 1000 years from now?

The Minar is really very beautiful. It is made in red and buff sandstone. It has a diameter of 14.32 metres at the base and 2.75 metres on the top. Its height is 72.5 metres. It has 5 storeys and the two top floors were repaired by Feroze Shah Tughlaq after the Minar was hit by lightening in 1368. The symmetry of the building, the calligraphy, and the beautiful craftsmanship needs to be seen and appreciated. The Minar is gigantic and yet it is beautifully carved with inscriptions, geometrical and arabesque patterns which look very balanced and proportionate. The curves and the angles of the Minar are a visual delight. This huge structure is very precise, and looks simply perfect. One can simply continuously gaze at it with amazement.

A tomb.

Besides the Qutab Minar this complex also has the tomb of Iltutmish and Allaudin Khilji. It also has the Alai Darwaza.which was a massive doorway to the Quwwat ul Islam mosque, which was made by Qutab ud din Aibak. This was the first mosque built in India. This Mosque was built with Pillars pillaged from Jain and  Hindu temples. Therefore the designs on these pillars have the motifs of lotus as well as the kalash carved on them.

In the compound of Qutab Minar one can also see the famous Iron pillar which belongs to the 4th Century AD.This has inscription in Brahmi lipi(writing). It probably belonged to the time of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. This pillar is supposed to have been brought here from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. This pillar is a marvel by itself as inspite of it being made of iron it has not rusted at all. It is called a marvel of ancient metallurgy of India. This pillar has now been enclosed by a screen so that people do not keep touching it.

The enclosed iron pillar.

Some of the rulers of the Slave Dynasty left their indelible mark on the History of India. Iltutmish introduced Chahalgani or Chalisa which was a group of 40 slaves who would advice the King on various matters. Was it a sort of council of advisers? Iltutmish was also the King who made Delhi his capital. Qutab ud din's capital had been  Lahore. Iltutmish also introduced the silver coin (tanka) and copper coin (jital).

Razia Sultan was the first and only woman Muslim ruler of India.

Balban was a strong ruler who introduced the spy system as an aid for administration. He also broke the power of the Chalisa and restored the power of a single ruler without aid. He was a stable ruler and ruled with an iron hand. He created a strong Army to deal with internal disturbances and keep the invaders away. He founded the Diwan-e- arz or a military department. He took up the title of Zille Ilahi or the Shadow of God.

Qutab Minar remains etched in my memory as I had visited it as a child. The view from the top was breath taking.  One was right on top of the world!

Jharokhas!

Besides that the most romantic songs of all times, "Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar, pyar ka raag suno re" was picturised inside the minar. My favourites Nutan and Dev Anand had immortalized the stairs of the Qutab Minar, at least for me.

My youngest brother Ujjwal as a baby could not pronounce “ka” We always teased him and asked him to say Qutab Minar, which he would diligently repeat as  "utur minar"!

So many memories, so much beauty, such magnificence, grandeur, all so close to me, which I had kept ignoring for so long!

Qutab Minar my friendly gigantic historical sentinel will continue to remain my personal favourite piece of History.