Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 179

JUNE, 1923)
BOOK NOTICES
168
BOOK NOTICES. A GUIDE TO NIZAMUDDIN (Memoirs of the and learning who they were that have here found
Archaeological Survey of India, No. 10), their last resting place. It is literally studied with by MAULVI ZAFAR HASAN, B.A. XI Plates. memories. Calcutta Government Press, 1922.
Khwaja Mu'ayyinu'ddin (Mu'inu'ddin) Chishti 1 This valuable monograph has several points for of Ajmer, buriod there in a similar enclosure and recommendation. It is based partly on very equally well worth a monograph, was the founder rare authorities : it deals with one of the most of the famous Chishtiye Order of Saints about interesting groups of Muhammadan sepulchral 1200 A.D. and was succeeded by Qutb Shah of monuments in India: it is carefully prepared, Mehrauli, who passed on the insignia of saintship and it is beautifully illustrated.
to Shekh Farid of PAkpatan, the preceptor of Every visitor to Delhi, indeed every globe.
Nizâmu'ddin Aulia of Budâûn and later of Delhi. trotter in India, goes or is taken to view the village
In the above list alone we have a galaxy of holy of Nizâmu'ddîn (Soldier of the Faith), especially
men, round whom endless legend has collected. the romantic and very beautiful grave, rather But in addition, the Sayyid ancestors of Nizamuddin than tomb, of Jahânârâ, the devoted poetess
himself, Sayyid 'Ali al-Bukhari and Sayyid daughter of Shahjahân, and to see men and boys Khwaja Arab, both of Budaun, respectively the take the big dive of 60 feet into the bdolt or well paternal and maternal grandfathers of Nizamu'ddin, there, off the roof of the Chini-kh-Burj.
are great heroes of legend on their own account. The village takes its name from the most popular
Nizâmu'ddin was born at Budâûn in 1238 A.D. of the medieval saints known to fame all over
and went to Delhi in 1254 to study under Khwaja India as Nizâmu'ddin Aulia, round whose tomb Shamsuddin (afterwards Shamsu'l-Mulk), wazir and shrine Mughal Royalties, notables and wealthy (minister) of Ghiyasu'ddin Balban, the "Slave personages have been buried, in Muhammadan King." Here he secured the friendship of Shokh fashion, century after century. Consequently some Najibu'ddin Mutawakkil, brother of the great of the buildings erected are amongst the best of Shokh Farid, and under his influence became the their kind, and in true Indian style have been latter's disciple in 1257, and then in 1265 his neglected, and also restored and enlarged and successor in the saintship, settled near Delhi. Here cared for, right up to the present day, by kings, his life was mixed up with the Khilji Dynasty of princes and notables. So that one has here Delhi and great by gone names of that line come collected together neglected ruins, often occupied before us,--'Alau'ddin, Mu'izzuddin, Jalaluddin, by very poor people and so destroyed as far as Qutbuddin , together with changes in the capital possible, and also graves, tombs and buildings fully round about, Delhi,-Ghiyaspur, Nizâmpur, preserved. It is good to learn that the Imperial Kilûkhși-and later, Tughlaqabad, Shâhjahanabad. Government has the whole place in hand.
With some of the rulers he was in high favour, Such a place is an epitome of many phases of but others were inclined to distrust him, and there Indian Muhammadan history, and is alive with are numerous aggrandising stories of the usual the varied associations of centuries in every corner more or less miraculous kind as to the assistance of it. Famous men and women, and events of or the reverse given them by him. Old tales of the most interesting and incongruous character the day are forcibly brought to mind in these are here recalled everywhere, and one can hardly legends : e.g., the famous raid of Malik Kafür into imagine a place more worth explaining to the Southern India (Warangal) for 'Alau'ddin Khilji, visitor, and I may add more difficult to explain and incidentally we sometimes hear, in connection to the non-expert in a manner that will not bore with the saint, of the names, characters and doings him. This monograph is an excellent attempt. of some of the sons of the old kings, which are not
The surroundings are thoroughly Indian and otherwise familiar to history. Thus, we find that are filled with the families of a poverty-stricken Khiar Khân, the unfortunate son of 'Alau'ddin and not very desirable class of people (pirzadas, Khilji, who, with his brother Shadi Khan, was children of the saint), who derive an unworthy blinded by Malik Kafar, on his father's death, built livelihood out of the memory of by-gone worthies the well-known Jama'at Khana (Hall of Congrega of special sanctity or social standing, with whom
tion), now a mosque for Nizâmu'ddin's followers. they have or claim a family connection. I will
After the Khiljis, the Tughlaqe were closely take time, tact and money to remove them to a
connected with Nizamu'ddin, and the well-known more useful sphere, but for the sake of themselves proverb, to give it its modern non-litegary form. and the historical Associations of the renewed
"Dillt dar hai, Delhi is a long way off," arose out capital of the Indian Empire it will be worth doing of the reply the saint gave to Ghiyâsu'ddin Tughlaq,
Many and many great name, event, legend when the latter demanded a certain sum of money and story comes to mind on going over the ground alleged to have been deposited with him and said
1 "Christi," according to a book by globe trotting English lady about 10 years ago