Historic monuments falling prey to anti-social elements, apathy

Several historic sites in Delhi have not only become a den for anti-socials but also a victim of official apathy.

The Hauz-i-Shamsi lake in Mehrauli, built by Iltutmish of the Slave Dynasty more than 700 years ago, remains closed often due to security fears because of the forcible entry of people who come with bottles of liquor and drugs.

“If visitors come, we open the gates. But during evenings, drug addicts and alcoholics come and demand entry so that they can smoke and drink in the premises. If we stop them, they pick fights with us. Several historians and researchers do visit the lake but it is the goons we fear here,” said a security guard at the lake, requesting anonymity.

It is said that Prophet Muhammad appeared in Iltutmish’s dream and directed him to build a lake at the spot. When Iltutmish inspected the site, he reportedly found a hoof print of Muhammad’s horse. He then erected a pavilion to mark the location and excavated the tank to store rainwater.

The use of telegraph service is often overlooked while speaking of British success in quelling India’s First War of Independence in 1857.

Located at Kashmiri Gate, the telegraph memorial lies amidst garbage and has become a urinal spot.

The memorial was unveiled by Lord Curzon in 1902 to acknowledge the services of two British signallers —- William Brendish and JW Pilkington —- who had alerted the Ambala Cantonment about the entry of ‘mutineers’ in Delhi. Their message on telegraph had helped the British plan the next course of action to counter the ‘mutineers’. These signallers were later killed by the ‘mutineers’.

In the words of British administrator Sir Robert Montgomery: “The electric telegraph has saved India.”