Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 62

Shahi-Bag was laid out in the time of Shahjahan, son of Jahangir, who was then the Governor Af Gujart. During that period, Gujarat had passed through a famine, and in order to provide work for the poor and hungry people, the Government had started constructing a garden in 1621-22 A. D. on the bank of Sabarmati in an area consisting of 105 bighas. 11 They built many beautful buildings arches, seats, streams and reservoirs. They also built a wall around with 12 buttrssses and a gate. When the garden was ready, it was said to be the biggest and the most beautiful of all. The writer of Mirat-(-Ahmedi writes: "For the management of this garden, 100 bullocks, 70 gardeners, a manager, a treasurer, and seven servants were employed." All the varieties of the roses that we find all over India were grown here. The garden was destroyed during the reign of the Marathas. They did not take any care of it and cut down its trees and the floods of the river did the rest. However, the palace remained and was used until recently as the Goveraor's House, There are a few big trees that still stand as a living testimony to the once great Shahi-Bag garden. In 1638, Mandeslo came to visit this place. Theveno came in 1666, and James Forbes in 1781.12 Describing Shahi-Bag, Thavenu says: "Every variety of tree that we find in India is crown here in this garden. It was straight road with beautiful trees in rows on both sides. They resemble the Course de la Reins in paris.” 13 James Forbes had seen the remains of a broken fountain. In 1875, a great flood destroyed whatever was left of the garden.
While the garden itself is no more, the memory of it survives in the huge gardens of the wealthy industrialists who live in that area, safe from the filth of their own industries. Hence, this locality remains the most beautiful and least polluted in the city.
Ahmedabad lost much of its splendour during the political disarders which followed the fall of Mughal Empire. The Manatha rule was comparatively short but they destroyed so much. In such depressed conditions, the British took over thie province in the beginning of the last pentury. The British Rule was also an induks. trial invasion. The development of Ahmedabad as the first major mechanised textile producing centres of India brought polluted prosperity to the city with the old town ringed by chimneys and mills. Through lake of patronage many Muslim institutions ceased to exist including the gardens. However, new gardens were laid out in various parts of the city following the British tradition of public parks which still provide moments of Shelter and calm for those who go there to escape the chaos of the ever growing city.
Footnotes 1. R. C. Papikh & H. G. Shastri, Gujarato Rajiya ane Sanskritik Itthas', Vol.
V p. 99 7. William Foster (ed), Early Travels in India, pp. 173, 206 & 300 3. R. C. Parikh & H. G. Shastri, op. cit., Vol. VI, p. 401
(Contd. on page 64) [Samipya : April, '91-March, 1992
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