Bapu's lesser known favourite home in Delhi's Daryaganj

Nestled in the walled city of Daryaganj, a yellow coloured house conserves yarns of history for it witnessed many landmark events that shaped the nation. The walls that have withstood the test of time. The house on 1, Ansari Road is among the lesser known places of the Capital where Father of the Nation left his footprints. DNA revisited them to find out how dauntingly they have persevered in the face of changing times.

Once owned by Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, one of the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia University in the pre-Independence era, Dar-Us-Salam was one of the favourite abodes of Gandhi. According to author Vivek Shukla who has penned Gandhi's Delhi- April 12, 1915, to January 30, 1948, and beyond, Gandhi first stayed at Dar-Us-Salam on November 2, 1921. Dr Ansari used to run his hospital from the house at that time, besides being the base for significant meetings of Freedom Movement. The house now belongs to Dr DB Jain, grandson of Lala Raj Kishan Jain, a close friend of Dr Ansari, who purchased it in 1947 from his adopted daughter Johra Bai for then princely sum of Rs five lakhs.

Dr Jain fondly recalls how he grew up listening to tales of Gandhi's stay at the house. "It was also a hideout for many freedom fighters like Aruna Asaf Ali, Manu Bhai Shah among others. "It was in this living room the first roundtable conference was held," Dr Jain smiles, pointing to the sofa he is sitting on as he gives another nugget. "This is Dr Ansari's sofa. We have preserved it over decades," the 69-year-old man says. Not just the furniture, the family has safeguarded the building as painstakingly whether it is the fountain in the middle of the aangan or the old style doors and windows.

With a visible hint of pride in his voice, Dr Jain informs how the house has also been a hard shell to vicissitudes of time. "The drainage system set up by Dr Ansari at that time is as robust even today. The house is a construction marvel, keeping the indoors cool in summer and warm in winter," he says. 

Urbanisation has still left its mark though. The residence that was surrounded by lush green lawns in days of yore, has battled rampant construction and illegal encroachment- all signs of modernisation. 1, Ansari Road now has multi-storey houses, hospitals, shops and godowns in place of the lawns, looking almost like a taint on the rich heritage it possesses. The same heritage, unfortunately, sometimes, causes inconvenience to the Jain family as Dr Jain's wife puts. "This is a private residence now but people do not understand. It becomes a free for all when heritage walk enthusiasts visit without prior notice. Students of School of Architecture walk in whenever they wish. It hampers our privacy," she rues.