This book is all about Delhi and the Red Fort as the title suggests. Perhaps no other city in the world can boast its legacy as old as of Mahabharat times. From Rajputs, Delhi passed in the hands of rulers and invaders from Afghanistan and Trans – Oxania region. In Mughals Hindustan from the times of Shahjahan, Delhi became the power seat and his son Aurangjeb the Alamgir maintained Laskar-e-Azim, the largest army at that time in the world. The Mughal Emperors who came after Aurangjeb were weak, namby-pamby characters and given more to the life of pleasure. The formidable Mughal Empire started crumbling. The Nadir Shahs, Abdalis, Marathas, Jats and the Ruhelas expedited the ruin. The British East India Company not only completed the task but also became the new Ruler, replacing the Great Mughals. The British could not ignore the mood of the people for long and had to leave the country. Finally India became a free nation when the first Prime Minister Pt. Nehru unfurled the tri-color flag from the ramparts of Red Fort. The narration ends at this note. This book unfolds the tales of fourteen cities starting from Indraprastha to New Delhi of today. The building, gardens, bazaars, galis and kutches of old city of Delhi speak about the bygone days of Shahjahganabad. The grandeur of the Red Fort or Qila-e-Muella that included the Palaces of the Mughals and the Halls of Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas where Shahjahan used to hold his court surpassed those of the Kingdoms of Balkh, Bukhara and Samarkand. The book carries 62 carefully chosen illustrations that add fragrance of the by-gone days.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A.P. Bhatnagar
Born in 1934, at the holy city of Prayagraj (Allahabad), the author feels pride in saying, “-the city that has given five Prime Ministers to the Country—“. He completed his Bachelors education from University of Allahabad and then obtained his post Graduate degree in engineering from University of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Literary environment of Allahabad had a lasting influence through out his life. An eminent engineer of international standing having served in a World Bank Project in Malaysia and led a United Nations F.A.O. Project Team in Nigeria, he retired from Punjab Agricultural University in 1994 where he served for 28 years as a Professor, Head of the Dep’t. Dean of the Engg. College and Director of School of Energy. There after followed a two years stint of heading nationally renowned Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Institute located in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat. He is recipient of several national level awards including the highest research award in Agricultural Engineering from Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He is a Fellow of Institution of Engineers India, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and the Asian Society of Agricultural Engineering and several other National Societies. He is author of two books, wrote chapters in two books editors of three books served as Chief Editor of Journal of Agricultural Engineering, member of editorial boards of National and International Journals and author of 36 technical reports and more than 100 papers. He has been Chairman and member of several National Committees. He represented India in many International meetings. Besides contributions in his own engineering area, he has written one Hindi Drama that was stage played in Banda and other cities of U.P. He wrote several short stories in Hindi based on historical background. History always fascinated him. “I would have opted a career in History and in Films as Director and Producer of Historical Films in the mould of Late Sohrab Modi – “ thus expressed the author when questioned further. Mughals held a special place for him. “Every Indian should feel proud of the contributions of Mughals to the Indian Culture. The glory of Red Fort and important buildings of Shahjahanabad must be told and retold to our younger generation and those who desire to know. Italian take pride in Rome. A Delhiwala should feel the same way for Delhi, know fully well its past and help in preserving this valuable link in our national heritageâ€. Author wants to convey this message through his book.
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