Locals living around the Begumpur Mosque claim that young men come here and misbehave
Lying in the heart of Delhi, in Malviya Nagar, Begumpur Mosque, once known as the crown of the Tughlaq era, lies in a state of disrepair and neglect.
Locals living around the area complain of inaction by the authorities as rowdy elements continue to harm the site and create a law and order problem in the area.
Vikramjit Singh Rooprai, a renowned heritage activist in Delhi said, "Begumpur Mosque, once had a glorious past but today it stands as a mute spectator to young boys, who climb the tall wall to drink alcohol, and then break the bottles on its stairs thus destroying the structure. Our utter disrespect for our heritage shows our awareness level, and how much we care for our past."
Activists also pointed out that the mosque area has gradually been encroached upon by villagers from Haryana.
A local proudly told DNA that his ancestors lived inside the mosque when hundreds of them came here in 1921.
Naturally, the lack of care and encroachment has taken its toll on the mosque.
In 1921, a portion of the mosque roof collapsed after which Archaeological Survey of India cleared it from encroachers.
These people have since created shanties around the mosque, and have contributed to its dilapidated condition.
Due to lack of care fungus has seeped into floors and walls here.
"These mosque and its surrounding buildings do not just carry a single story, but they have been living and evolving with the passing generations. It is important to save them and spread awareness to ensure that coming generations understand this evolution, and the hardships with which they were achieved," Rooprai added.
Begumpur Mosque is one of the seven mosques said to have been built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Firuz Shah Tughlaq.
The mosque was built along with a few other structures in Mohammed bin Tughlaq's new city called "Jahanpanah', which was built between 1326 and 1327.
It is said to be built on an Iranian design by the then famous architect- Zahir al-din al-Jayush.
Analysis
Delhi has an abundance of monuments but lack of care by the authorities has allowed many to fall into dilapidation.
The other major problem is lack of awareness on the part of the public. Awareness must be built up to make the public feel the need to protect monuments.
Civic authorities must also be given a free hand to crack down on encroachments. In the past, such encroachers have been seen as vote-banks and thus no action has been taken.
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