Survivor of ravages

Iron Pillar,Delhi

In the complex of Qutb Minar, Delhi, I felt a tryst with sublimate stories of history confined in the array of decrepit structures, the roofless colonnades and in remnants of nicely carved arches essence of sensational stories of history could be felt and enlivened many fascinating tales of bravery in my mind. Like a landmark or a juncture of history, where a sun down of Hindu rule and subsequent advent of Muslim rule in India were merged.

Iron Pillar,Delhi

In the Qutb Minar complex, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque happened to be Rai Pithoda temple; an assemblage of twenty seven Hindu and Jain temples later ruined and renamed by Muslim rulers (Pritviraj Chauhan was also known as Rai Pithoda). Marks of destruction by the invaders were everywhere in the precincts of the complex but an upstanding iron pillar miraculously survived ravages of invasion, corrosion and pollution.

Iron, as we commonly see, when exposed in air get oxidized and thus result corrosion. As the scientists say some particles present in air are the main inducing agents for corrosion. The exceptional example of iron, where adverse components of weather could not erode its anti corrosive coating has been a cause of great curiosity to the world wide tourists’ as well as to the scientists and historians. Extensive research revealed due to high phosphorous content, the pillar sustained to withstand corrosion or other hazards of nature.

Metallurgical wonder, The Iron pillar,Delhi

Inscriptions in devnagri were engraved on the pillar. It was Gupta devnagri and the inscription elucidated, founder of Tomar dynasty Anang Pal, brought it from an unknown location, defined as Vishnupad Giri and placed it in Rai Pithoda temple. The inscriptions on Iron pillar insinuated that it was raised actually to accolade posthumously a Gupta king called Chandra. Chandra was presumably Chandragupta II of Gupta dynasty of fourth century A.D. The scientists of fourth century coated the iron with a protective film to prevent it from getting oxidised that sustained anti corrosive property notwithstanding the ravages of corrosion and pollution.

Unique respite

way yo Mirik,

After a long spell of gruelling hackneyed life, yearn for a rendezvous with the lush greenery was knocking at the door. My unusual morning slumber broke on an uphill drive from Siliguri and I discovered we were on a pursuit to elude away from the tiring schedule to overhaul our soul. Viewed like wrapped under green carpets, the hills were entirely clad on tea plantations or in other words it was like a masterpiece of soothing colours on the canvas of blue sky. Our uphill drive was on a road cutting through the tea gardens, like a ripped carpet.

Sumendu Lake, Mirik

Effacing the drape of mist the morning was slowly dressing up in ebullience and it was fascinating view of a Sun up through the window of our vehicle. From the curtain of haze the Sun inundated the entire surrounding with illumination and nascent Sun appeared in stunning vermillion in the azure, emanating pleasant warmth in Godly gesture. Through the ups and downs of hilly terrain, enjoying a ride on roller coaster we reached our destination, Mirik.

Mirik town

The tiny lake town of Darjeeling District, with a moderate number of inhabitation, was in fascinating mood, entire environment appeared basking under the Sun. In local dialect, Mirik means, a result of conflagration. We proceeded to the lake called Sumendu, flanked by a beautiful garden and grove of pine trees on its other side, where flamboyant boats were sailing on. A bridge resembling the shape of rainbow has linked both sides of the lake called Indrani Pool, and it was a picturesque beauty to describe about the surrounding. Lots of fishes of the lake were friskily gulping puffed rice. It was a glassy view of an unbounded beauty, where the slick of dew on the tip of grasses was still visible and emerged like diamonds in galore.

Instantaneously a splash of cold wind from grove of pine trees shook me thoroughly to welcome in the world of lush greenery and to reciprocate, I inhaled deeply in obeisance. Abutting boundary of the lake pine trees invited us in the bower that deepened the colour of Sumendu. The impetus to unite with the nature was driving us to the wooded land.

Throne of a maestro

Anoop Talao, Fatehpur Sikri

It was too hot and the remorseless heat of the Sun was playing Raag Deepak in the entire premises of Fatehpur Sikri, Agra. Sweltered by the mid day Sun, in the array of red sandstone edifices of Fatehpur Sikri, we were avidly listening to the superficial anecdotes of history from our guide, sagas of sheen of the desolate royal premise that was deserted due to dearth of water by Emperor Akbar, just fourteen years after its construction. My vision leapt on abundantly spread examples of applauding craftsmanship of Mughal architecture on the royal buildings of Fatehpur Sikri. Exposed under the infuriating radiation in the glade, I was transfixed and got dragged to architecture that appeared like an oasis in the arid desert, with four walkways built on a tiny lake attached to a square platform at the centre and nicely carved red sandstone trellis abutting the precincts.

Anoop Talao, Fatehpur Sikri

It was Anoop Talao, the seat of royal vocalist in the court of Akbar. Emerged like a throne of a legendry maestro of Hindustani classical music, Tansen. Where he kindled incandescent flame of classical music through his unique compositions and vocally portrayed fascinating shades of changing nature and made the treasure of Hindustani Classical music wealthier. Tansen, was a gift to the court of Akbar from the king of Rewa and adorably called Mian by the emperor. Listened by his greatest admirer Emperor Akbar from Khwabgah or emperor`s rest room, Anoop Talao was said to have dazzled with the glint of countless Gold and Silver coins.

The deserted seat of the legendry performer appeared to me like a poignant listener of wailing wind, the seat that witnessed Tansen to electrify his royal audience through his compositions or witnessed rain to overpower the incense of gleaming Sun brought by Mian ki Malhar.

Retreat for sojourn

“Each year in mid April, when the warm weather arrived, the Viceroy`s departure for Simla in his White and Gold Vice regal train signaled that the mountain capital`s season had began.”----Freedom at Midnight.

The Viceroyal Palace,Simla

Through a charming landscape and uphill drive, we were on our way to the Viceroy`s palace of Simla, on the observatory hill, the place of British sojourn in the congenial weather of Simla where the searing glint of Sun has no access. The windy afternoon slowly turned to a moderate storm as we began our journey and like a ruffian to afflict our drive to the observatory hill, Simla, trampled on the windscreen of our car, might be reminding us the strict British rule that banned general vehicles to ply on the streets of Simla. It is hard to believe; on a modern motor driven road of Simla that rickshaw was the common mode of conveyance till the British domination. Until the Kalka Simla railway was operational from 9-th November 1903, the retreat convoy of the Viceroy usually reached Simla from Kalka by road on Tonga, bullock carts and their belongings on porters back.

The Viceroyal Palace,Simla

Our car stopped near the open space where journey of Indian Viceroy of British regime used to end every year at the arrival of hot season. While walking towards the entrance, I felt very strange reminding that Indian were not allowed to walk even on the Mall of Simla till the end of World War I.

Retaining its elite class since the British era of Viceroyalty, the discriminating Scottish styled castle like architecture designed by Irish architect Henry Irwin has been dedicated after Indian independence to the elite scholars of Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Surrounded in an array of upright trees with a superb lawn in its front the huge palace happened to be summer retreat of the Viceroy of India or a retreat into luxury for the successor of Mughal in India. The venue for many historic meetings since the Viceroyalty of Lord Dufferin, the erstwhile summer palace undergone some changes in its interior design to meet the requirement of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.