[jyotirmoy]

Behind the Red Fort is an area called the Suhagpura where many young women who had been with the Mughal emperor only once but were nonetheless “married” to him, resided. Needless to say, often their biological and emotional instincts got the better of them and they embarked on illicit affairs with commoners and outsiders as a result of which they were impregnated. Yunani medicine was used in aborting these discarded wives lest the emperor discover their indiscretion. The fetuses of the countless illegitimate heirs to the throne were all clandestinely buried behind the Suhagpura (Suhag = Love) and the burial ground is still in existence today.

[Yashodhara]

Brr, pretty ugly story, gives me the creeps.

[jyotirmoy]

Delhi is the city of Dijjns... many more historical ghosts. I will post some more.

[Judi]

Fascinating, Jyoti ..... but how sad And I can well believe that Delhi is the city of Djinns ..........

[Shilpaks]

euuuuuuuuh thinking of going to a place like that itself gives me the creeps eeeeeuhhhhhhh!
anyone read the book "city of Djinns"- how is it?

[dzibead]

Shilpaks, on Dec 7 2006, 08:24 PM, said:

euuuuuuuuh thinking of going to a place like that itself gives me the creeps eeeeeuhhhhhhh!
anyone read the book "city of Djinns"- how is it?

The City of Djinns is great - highly recommended!

[priya]

How very sad I wonder whether there's an ambiance at this place with all those poor lost souls?

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

anyone read the book "city of Djinns"- how is it?

I have, and I loved it.

a brilliant mix of travel, history and autobiography from a man who loves living in India.

absolute must for visitors to delhi, and anyone interested in India generally.

[Shilpaks]

ty ppls, will pick up a copy asap.

[iwanttogoback]

shilpaks, let us know how you find it. I hope you won't be disappointed.

[Judi]

It's a 'must read', shilpaks - I absolutely loved it and hope you will too

[captmahajan]

jyotirmoy, I used to visit that area from school, which wasnt far away. thanks for some history.

shilpaks, city of djinns is one of darymple's best. and, if bbc ever reruns the programme with the same name, (hosted by the author), dont miss that either.

[jyotirmoy]

Yes Capt. Delhi is full of history. No other city has seen so much plunder, loot & blood shed than Delhi. I hope to compile some more little known historical incidents.

[Jock & Di]

jyotirmoy, on Dec 9 2006, 12:28 PM, said:

Yes Capt. Delhi is full of history. No other city has seen so much plunder, loot & blood shed than Delhi. I hope to compile some more little known historical incidents.

Please do. I was saying to Di only last weekend that if I had the interest in history (and geography etc) that I have now back when I was in high school I would have passed these subjects with flying colours- or at least passed them !

[jyotirmoy]

Jock & Di, on Dec 9 2006, 03:08 AM, said:

Please do. I was saying to Di only last weekend that if I had the interest in history (and geography etc) that I have now back when I was in high school I would have passed these subjects with flying colours- or at least passed them !

It is never too late dear friend.
During my early days in Delhi I walked the lanes & bylanes of Delhi. There was'nt any security concerns in those days, one could enter lesser known ruins even at dead of night. The ruins of Tughlakabad fort spread over miles almost came alive on a full moon night. Winter afternoons at the Firoze Sha kotla, sunsets at the Purana Killah(old fort), coming down the same staircase where Humaun fell to his death while descending from his library, loitering on the ramparts of Red Fort from where the last Moghul had seen the dust raised accross the Yamuna by horsemen... returning from the weekly second hand book bazzar around the Khooni Darwaza(Bloody gate) where the severed head of Dara was exhibitted by his brother Aurangzeb before presenting the same to his father Sha Jahan on a platter......they & their friends and foes all ghosts now cast no shadows

[captmahajan]

jyotirmoy, your history is the one they did not teach in school, either Jocks or mine. much more interesting.

Waiting for more such snippets. Lived in Delhi most of my childhood; just shows how little I know.