Delhi: C
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Chiragh Dilli
Bahlol Khan Lodhi's tomb
The Times of India, Aug 25 2015
Richi Verma
A usurper Sultan's final resting place swallowed by squatters
As the founder of the Lodhi dynasty in Delhi, Bahlol Khan Lodhi left behind a lasting legacy . Yet his tomb today is in a shambles thanks to encroachments and lack of conservation efforts by authorities concerned. New buildings have come up around the monument in south Delhi's Chirag Dilli village, which itself is falling to pieces. Some portions, including a wall mosque surrounding it, vanished through the years and only the remnants are visible now. Bahlol Lodhi ruled Delhi from 1451 to 1488. History has it that he usurped the throne from the last of the Sayyid ruler. After his death, his tomb was said to have been built by his successor and son Sikander Lodhi. It used to be surrounded by a vast garden, which too has disappeared over the years.
A signage declaring Bahlol Lodhi's tomb a protected monument by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has failed to deter encroachers.One has to walk along a narrow lane amid multi-storey buildings to reach the monument. This is a place where residents seem to be fight ing for every inch of open space. Adjacent buildings have eaten into the monument's space with only the front part remaining protected due to the iron fencing installed by ASI. Children play on the grounds, teenagers come here for loitering around and women use the iron railing to dry their laundry.
It is unclear when the tomb last saw any conservation though patches of white plaster work can be seen at many points. Structurally, the monument is in a good state, but its overall condition is far from satisfactory with plaster peeling off from all sides and cracks developing on the façade. The five domes on the roof show decades of neglect as well. This might be the only protected monument in Chirag Dilli village. Besides, TOI could find only one gateway , which too is heavily encroached upon, among the four that existed in the same area.
In the main tomb, Quranic verses inscribed on the arches have all but vanished with the passage of time. “The quranic verses were important as these were the only ornamentation work in the whole structure,“ says an expert. ASI's director (conservation) Janhwij Sharma did not reply to TOI's queries on the conservation status of the tomb.ASI sources said constructions had come up prior to the monument being notified in the gazette. However, they said plans were afoot to start repair work.
