Etched in stone, memory of First Battle of Panipat slowly withering away

Panipat, known globally for its handloom products, was the battlefield for three historic battles in 1526, 1556 and 1761 respectively. Its land bore witness to the end of a dynasty and the era of the Delhi Sultanate as well as the beginning of Mughal rule in India. All of it happened with one battle that was fought five hundred years ago in April of 1526 - the First Battle of Panipat.

Panipat saw three defining battles – the First Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526, between Ibrahim Khan Lodi and Zahir-ud-din Babur, an invader from Kabul. Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of Delhi Sultanate was killed in this battle.

The Second Battle of Panipat was fought on November 5, 1556, between Akbar (under regent Bairam Khan) and Hemchander, alias Hemu Vikramditya, the last Hindu emperor of Delhi. An arrow struck Hemchander in the eyes causing his army to retreat, following which Akbar won the battle.

Ibrahim Khan Lodi’s tomb in the Tehsil Camp area of Panipat.

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761, between the Maratha Empire,led by Sadashivrao Bhau, and Ahmad Shah Abdali. The Marathas suffered a devastating defeat in this battle.

Zahir-ud-din Muhammed Babur’s slaying of the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Ibrahim Lodi, during the First Battle of Panipat laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India.

Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of his dynasty, considered a cruel king, rests in the soil of Panipat under a double layer tomb at a park in its Tehsil Camp. His tomb, marked by a rectangular grave developed over a higher platform, was built in Panipat by using Lakhauri bricks (special small type of bricks). An inscription on a niche near the grave declares that it was rebuilt during the British rule in 1867 AD by the British rulers.

In view of its historical importance, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had declared it as a protected monument under Section 24 of the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act , 1958, but the tomb has started uprooting. The bricks on the upper layer have started breaking off, while the plaster on it is also gradually falling.

However, a warning board was mounted by the ASI near the protected site. It clearly states that the monument has been declared of national importance under the Act, hence whoever destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses the monument shall be punishable with imprisonment extending up to two years and/or a Rs one lakh fine.

Adjacent to the tomb, three sculptures, along with an artillery showcase, are on display. They highlight the importance of the battle between Lodi and Babur and how Babur used his artillery to emerge as the ictor. The sculptures were earlier kept on the GT road to serve as a showcase of the history of Panipat’s battles to commuters, but later with the widening of the road, these sculptures were shifted to the park in Tehsil camp, near the site of Lodi’s tomb.

The sculptures are also not in good condition. The right hands of two sculptures are broken, while a hand of the third sculpture hand was also lying broken, the handle of the sword with one sculpture was also broken and the artillery’s opening side was damaged. However, the park is being maintained by the Panipat Municipal Corporation (MC) and people often visit the tomb.

On the condition of anonymity, a caretaker of the ASI said he used to visit the site on a daily basis. “The condition of the tomb has been conveyed to higher officials and photos of the same have also been sent to them. Officials earlier used to visit the site to inspect the condition of the monuments protected by the ASI from time to time,” he added.

He further said that ASI had protected several sites in the district, including the Ibrahim Lodi tomb in Tehsil camp; five Kos Minars in Patel Nagar, Sewah in Sector 25, Manana; Nestle in Samalkha and Jhattipur villages; Babri Masjid (Kabuli Bagh Masjid) in the city area; Salarganj Gate or Faiz Gate; and Kala Amb, a war memorial for the Third Battle of Panipat fought between the Marathas and Ahamed Shah Abdali in 1761.