Much has been written about this Delhi's outer gateway that stands right across once a
famous Cricket ground - Feroshah Kotla. This red-colored structure resembles more or less like an entrance to a mini fortress with three staircases to the upper levels, giving a peculiar grotesque look to the structure. People used to call it Kabuli Gate, perhaps the travelers moving in caravans used this gate to go to Kabul (now in Afghanistan) in the by-gone era. As this gate is on the outskirts of the city, centuries ago the Muslim rulers after executing the criminals would hang their body near the gate till they began to putrefy. Such appalling acts of barbarity were part of life then in Delhi. It was
a sort of warning to the new visitors to the city and this horror would act as deterrents to the habitual criminals. Khooni Darwaza (the Gate of Blood) is a popular site in Delhi and some people call it Red Gate. Either Structurally or artistically there is nothing special or grandeur about this old gate, except that this historical gate was a silent spectator to many, bizarre, blood-curdling violent murders of political figures, etc that had taken place over a span of few centuries. On account of such past bloody incidents there is no dearth of horror stories about this gate. In terms of gory details of bloodshed that took place here, you won't find the difference between this gate and the one in the Hades. The 15.5 m tall gate built during the reign of Sher Shah Surii, is just south of the fortified Old city on the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. The Delhi Gate (of Old Delhi) is just half a kilo meter from here.
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This 3-story structure is under the control of the ASI - Archaeological Survey of India. since the time of the last rebellion of 1857 by the Indian soldiers against the English company under the last Mogul ruler Bhahadur Shah Zafar, the gate has gained notoriety for bloodbath and the worst violence. However, prior to the Delhi siege, many notorious incidents took place near this gate.
The following horrible incidents took place near the Khooni Daewaza in the way past:
01. When emperor Jahangir (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627) succeeded his father Akbar to the covetous Mogul throne, he was vehemently opposed by some of Akbar's group of advisors called ''Navaratnas''. Ruler Jehangir became furious and wanted them out of his way. He had two sons of Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, one of the Navratnas, executed by his men. The bloody execution took place at the Khooni Darwaza and later their bodies were left right there to rot at the gate
02. Treacherous Mogul ruler Aurangzeb (Shah Jahan's son) went against his father's wish to crown his eldest son Dara Shikoh , who was a noble man and a poet. With support from his elder sister Roshanara Begam who spied on Dara, Aurangzeb developed enmity and finally grabbed the throne by defeating Dara in a battle. He did not stop at it, driven by rage and vengeance, he had Dara Shikoh murdered publicly before a large crowd. He sent the severed head to his father Shah Jahan who was jailed by him. Later he had the head of Darah displayed at Khooni gate. Quite disgusting and nauseating revenge against one's own brother!!
03. When the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah (1736–47; founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Persia ) raided the Mogul kingdom and plundered the valuables, there was a large scale murders and mayhem and the city was sacked by his army. The merciless ruler literally bled the city of Delhi. During the course of six hours in one day, 22 March 1739, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 Indian men, women and children were slaughtered by the Afsharid troops. The gate is supposed to have seen bloodshed in Maech 1739 during Nadir Shah's violent raid. Some historians say the mass killing took place near another gate. in the Dariba locality of Chandni Chowk. It is still a subject of discussion.
04. The worst killing by Europeans took place near the Khooni gate during the early colonial time under the East India company. It occurred in Sept. 1857, when the great rebellion was on and during the Delhi siege by the rebel Indian soldiers.
Killing of Mughal princes added one more chapter in the dark history of British rule in India. Because of this unjust and bloody event in which three young Mogul princes were killed, the Khooni Darwaza (Bloody Gate) became a byword for violence and gruesome murders.
The three princes of the Mughal dynasty - Bahadur Shah Zafar's sons Mirza Mughal and Mirza Khizr Sultan and grandson Mirza Abu Bakht, were all shot dead point blank by a mad British officer, Major William Hodson, on 22 September 1857 during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. When the Delhi siege was over, Hodson arrested the last Mogul ruler - Bahadur Zafar, and on the following day he agreed to unconditional surrender of three princes who were hiding in the Humayun tomb. Hodson arrested about 16 members of the Emperor's family and was transporting them from Humayun's Tomb in a bullock cart accompanied by a detachment of 100 "sowars" (Indian cavalrymen in the British service). Upon arriving near the Khooni Gate, Hodson ordered the three to get down at the spot, stripped them naked in front of countless men. In a flash, he whipped out a gun and shot all the three princes at close range - almost point blank range. Hodson ordered his men to have the three bodies displayed for three days in front of the Kotwali near Chandni Chowk for public view. This was done to instill fear among the natives.
04. Post-independence during the riots of 1947 owing to communal disturbances among the refugees transferring residency between Pakistan and India, a lot of bloodshed occurred near the gate. Innumerable refugees going to the camp established by the govt. in Purana Qila were killed in the mayhem and riots. After 2002 the monument was closed to the general public.
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