New Delhi's Dalhousie street is now called Dara Shikoh

Navrang India February 11, 2017

Mogul prince Dara Shikok and father Shahjahan. Pinteres
India, once an important  British colony was ruled by the British for more than two centuries and during that period they had built numerous buildings and roads, bridges, railways etc., for effective administration and mobility of military and people. After independence in August 1947, we are losing the colonial structures across India one by one because of carelessness, administrative negligence and utter disregard for our history. Only recently steps were taken by the government to repair and preserve them for our posterity. Thanks to the historians and many social organizations that feel such colonial structures, vestiges of colonial rule and legacy should not become mounds of trash and be lost forever. Along with them, our eventful history and the connectivity with the past colonial era will be lost for good.
Dalhousie Street, New Delhi. The New Indian Express
In many cities, names of the streets bearing British rulers' names that have been around for a long period are replaced by new names by the politicians according to their whims and fancies. They never conduct opinion polls and try to know the wish of the people.  Two years ago, Aurangzeb Road was renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Road after the former Indian president. Historians world over know that the Mogul ruler Aurangzeb was a tyrannical and unjust ruler, besides being a religious bigot. There is nothing wrong in naming the street after Dr. Abdul Kalam, a world famous space scientist, and former Indian President. In his personal life, he was more than a karma yogi and stood above religion. Likewise last year, Race Course Road got a new name, Lok Kalyan Marg. 

The New Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday 5 February 2017 officially renamed Dalhousie Road in the national capital as Dara Shikoh Road after the elder brother of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Meenakshi Lekhi, BJP MP and the council member said, "The council has decided to rename the road which is in the heart of the city, to honor Dara Shikhoh for bringing Hindus and Muslims together". Dalhousie Road, named after Lord Dalhousie, who served as Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856, is close to Vijay Chowk and is less than 2 km from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the Indian President lives. In less the two years for the third time, NDMC renamed the street name. According to Sohail Hashmi, historian and author, who is popular for his 'heritage walks' in Delhi, changing historical names will "erase history". Dara Shikoh has not got the recognition he deserves for his contribution to his syncretism...", Hashmi said.

 Dara Shikoh:  

Dara Shikoh/en.wikipedia.org
Above image: Dara Shikoh (M 20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659}
Born at Taragarh Fort Ajmir (Rajasthan). Death: Assassinated in public at the age of 44 by his younger brother Mogul ruler Aurangzeb. Buried at Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi. Spouse:Nadira Banu Begum. Issues: Four daughters and three sons. Religion: Sufism.       .................

Dara Shikoh, also known as Dara Shukoh was the eldest son and the heir-apparent of the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. M 20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659. Unlike his brother Aurangzeb, he was a man of different character and orientation. He was a moderate Musalman and had promoted the peace and cordial relationship between the followers of Hinduism and Islam. Besides, he evinced deep interest in humanism and peace. He was also a promoter of fine arts and music. 

It was a common practice among the Mogul ruler's sons to undergo military training and later they had to command the military. Dara Shikoh was appointed as a military commander at an early age, receiving an appointment as commander of 12,000-foot and 6,000 horse in October 1633. On 10 September 1642, Shah Jahan made formal confirmation of Dara Shikoh as his heir, granting him the title of Shahzada-e-Buland Iqbal ("Prince of High Fortune").

Towards the end of 1657, Dara Shikoh was appointed Governor of the province of Bihar and promoted to command of 60,000 infantry and 40,000 cavaliers. Already there was a struggle among the sons of Shahjahan and they were against Shikoh ascending the throne. Among the brothers, Aurangzeb was the most conceited and despicable character. Dara Shikoh was defeated by Aurangzeb and Murad during the Battle of Samugarh, 13 km from Agra on 30 May 1658. Subsequently, Aurangzeb took over Agra fort and deposed emperor Shah Jahan on 8 June 1658. Shikoh, at last, took refuge in Sindh under Malik Jiwan (Junaid Khan Barozai), an Afghan chieftain, whose life had on more than one occasion been saved by the Mughal prince from the fury of Shah Jahan. However, the ungrateful  Junaid betrayed Dara Shikoh and turned him 
(and his second son Sipihr Shikoh) over to Aurangzeb's army on 10 June 1659. Here Aurangazeb proved how heartless he was
towards his own brother, own blood. He paraded him on a dirty elephant through the streets of the capital in chains. He declared him a threat to the public peace and an apostate from Islam. Without mercy, Dara Shikoh was assassinated by  Aurangzeb's henchmen right in front of his terrified, son on the night of 30 August 1659 (9 September Gregorian).

Lord Dalhousie:
pazhayathu.blogspot.com
Dalhousie (Real name James Andrew Ramsay) served as the `Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856 under the East India Company rule and he implemented the Doctrine of Lapse whereby in the absence of a natural heir, the sovereignty of Indian states was to lapse to the British and such rulers were not permitted to adopt a son to inherit their kingdoms. There has been a misconception as to this doctrine of lapse. Dalhousie himself was not the author of this doctrine. In 1844 itself, the Directors of the Company had declared that the permission to adopt on the failure of natural heirs “should be the exception, not the rule” and should never be granted but as a special mark of favor or approbation”.
 
Lord DalhousieTutorialsPoint

During this period, Second Anglo-Sikh War (1849) was fought in which the Sikhs were defeated. This paved the way for Dalhousie to annex the whole of Punjab to the British administration. Innumerable Indian states fell preys to Dalhousie's stratagem - the doctrine of lapse. His administration also saw the opening
 the first railway line between Bombay and Thane in 1853 and the Telegraphic connection of  Calcutta and Agra in the same year. He also brought out some reforms such as the passing of the Widow Remarriage Act (1856) and setting up of P.W.D to improve roads, bridges, and agriculture, etc.
SlidePlaye
Dalhousie became the most criticized British General of that era and was tagged as the destroyer of both the East India Company's financial and military position through reckless policies.  His lack of vision, his overbearing self-confidence, wrong implementation of his policies, and expansive annexations led to the worst Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the transformation of money-spinning  commercial operations in India into a money-losing colonial administration. 

This is the third road in the Lutyens’ Zone of Delhi to be renamed in recent time. Last year, Race Course Road got a new name, Lok Kalyan Marg. Other roads in central Delhi that were renamed in the past are Curzon Road to Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Irwin Road to Baba Kharak Singh Marg, King Edward Road to Maulana Azad Road and Kingsway to Rajpath.

Ref:
http://www.gktoday.in/lord-dalhousie/ + implemented the Doctrine 

http://navrangindia.blogspot.in/2014/12/looter-and-looted-intolerence-british_26.html
pazhayathu.blogspot.com
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dara_Shikoh





Above image: Dara Shikoh (M 20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659}
Born at Taragarh Fort, 
Ajmir (Rajasthan). Deth:  Assassinated in public at the age of 44 by his younger brother Mogul ruler Aurangzeb. Buried at Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi; Spouse:Nadira Banu Begum. Issues: Four daughters and three sons
Religion: Sufism




This is the third road in the Lutyens’ Zone of Delhi to be renamed in recent times.

Two years back, Aurangzeb Road was renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Road after the former president. Last year, Race Course Road got a new name, Lok Kalyan Marg.


Other roads in central Delhi that were renamed in the past are Curzon Road to Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Irwin Road to Baba Kharak Singh Marg, King Edward Road to Maulana Azad Road and Kingsway to Rajpath.

This is the third road in the Lutyens’ Zone of Delhi to be renamed in recent times.

Two years back, Aurangzeb Road was renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Road after the former president. Last year, Race Course Road got a new name, Lok Kalyan Marg.


Other roads in central Delhi that were renamed in the past are Curzon Road to Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Irwin Road to Baba Kharak Singh Marg, King Edward Road to Maulana Azad Road and Kingsway to Rajpath.


ccccc
Other roads in central Delhi that were renamed in the past are Curzon Road to  Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Irwin Road to Baba Kharak Singh Marg, King Edward Road to Maulana Azad Road and Kingsway to Rajpath.


February 06, 2017 15:45 ISdelhi Updated: Feb 09, 2017 08:53 IST   
Ritam Halder

bbbbbbbb


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of fifth Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, unlike his brother Aurangzeb was a man of different character and orientation  and was the choice of his father to occupy the throne. He was a moderate Musalman and had promoted the peace  
and  cordial relationship between the followers of Hinduism and Islam. Besides, he evinced deep interest in comparative religions, universal brotherhood, humanism, and peace. He was a great patron of fine arts and music, and took his last breath in Delhi,

This is the third road in the Lutyens’ Zone of Delhi to be renamed in recent times.

Two years back, Aurangzeb Road was renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Road after the former president. Last year, Race Course Road got a new name, Lok Kalyan Marg.


Other roads in central Delhi that were renamed in the past are Curzon Road to Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Irwin Road to Baba Kharak Singh Marg, King Edward Road to Maulana Azad Road and Kingsway to Rajpath.



“In election time, they (BJP) do this. In UP, they have not given a single Muslim candidate ticket to contest in the polls. This is being done to avoid defeat. I propose to rename this road as Raja Suraj Mal Road instead.

“Dara Shikoh was Aurangazeb’s elder brother. Why don’t we rename the road after someone who has worked for all, both Hindu and Muslim? Suraj Mal was an iconic Jat ruler. We should rename Dalhousie Road after him,” he said, adding that he would raise the issue in the Council meeting on Wednesday.

Read more: 7 RCR becomes a tourist spot after name change

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also a member of the NDMC.

Even while renaming Race Course Road, in September 2016, the proposal was that of Ekatma Marg. During the council meeting, Kejriwal proposed to rename the road after Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. Finally the consensus was arrived on Lok Kalyan Marg.

Read more
 xxxxxx

Sign in  |  Create a Rediffmail account
Rediff.com  » News » Delhi: Dalhousie Road renamed after Aurangzeb's brother
Delhi: Dalhousie Road renamed after Aurangzeb's brother
ShareComment
To get such articles in your inbox
Text size:  A   A   A
February 06, 2017 15:45 IST



"


Lekhi's proposal was supported by NDMC Vice Chairman Karan Singh Tanwar but AAP MLA Surinder Singh questioned the timing of the recommendation in view of assembly polls in four states.


This
© Copyright 2017 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
Related News: Dalhousie Road, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Meenakshi Lekhi, Abdul Kalam









xxxxxx

tahttp://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/dalhousie-road-may-be-renamed-after-aurangazeb-s-elder-brother-dara-shikoh/