Delhi-Meerut

Discovery of Delhi–Mirath

Harry Falk, Asokan Sites and Artefacts, 181–183

Discovery/ History:

Major P.L. Pew in Prinsep 1837d: 795: “This very ancient Hindu pillar was dug out of some ruins near a boulee (baoli) or well, and was probably destroyed by the blowing up of a powder magazine which I understand once existed near the spot. It consists of five pieces, which when put together measure 32 ¾ feet long: the diameter of the largest piece is 3 feet 2 inches, and that of the small-est 2 ½ feet. The total weight 372 maunds.

(...) Since the fragments of this column have only been recently disinterred from the mass

of ruin, evidently Hindu, where they had reposed in silence and darkness for ages.”

Cunningham 1871i: 168: “According to popular belief, this pillar was thrown down by an accidental explosion of a powder magazine in the time of Farokhsir, who reigned from A.D. 1713 to 1719.”

According to the report in the Ta’rikh-i Fīrūz-Shāhi by Shams-i-Sirāj Afif (Lewis 1850: 29) the pillar stood “near Meerut”, or “in the vicinity of Kusbah Meerut” (Cope/Lewis 1850: 73). Mīrath (UP) is sit-uated at 77°45’ E and 29°01’ N. Shams-i-Sirāj Afif’s report, at least that part of it that concerns the Toprā pillar, does not seem to be absolutely trustworthy, is nevertheless certainly correct so far as his placement inside the Delhi area near the kušk-i šikār, or “hunting palace” goes.

“Firoz Schâh [...] fit aussi transporter ce second lâṭh au Pavillon de l’observatoire (khušk-i jahān-nemā), autrement dit Pavillon de la chasse (khušk-i šikār) [...] Lorsqu’il eut été élevé devant ce pavillon, le roi fit célé-brer des réjouissances, et il ordonna que tous les habitants de la ville vinssent voir le spec-tacle” (de Tassy 1860: 234).

Preservation:

The pillar broke into several pieces when an ammunition depot exploded nearby in around 1715. Since then, the pillar lay in fragments. Some inscribed parts were later moved to Calcutta, from where they returned in the second half of the 19th century and were reassembled with the other parts in 1867 (Führer 1891: 11). The upper part of the edicts, containing 8 to 9 lines, i.e. at least 42 cm, went missing altogether. The only remnant of this part is the London fragment preserving the last two lines of RE6, now on display in the British Museum, acc.no. OA 1880-21 (figs. 4-5). Plate XLII in Prinsep 1837d shows some more words in the first line when compared to Janert 1972b: 227.

One vertically split piece still lies in front of the newly erected edifice.

Visitors:

Amīn Rāzī (1593-1619), in his work Haft iqlīm, cited by Harington (published in Colebrooke 1801: 177): “Among the places built by this King (Feeroz Shah) is a hunting place, which the populace call the Lat of Feerōz Shah. It is a house of three stories, in the center of which has been erected a pillar of red stone, of one piece, and tapering upwards. The visible part of the shaft is, by measurement, twenty-seven Zirras, and it is said that one-third only is visible; the remain-ing two-thirds being buried in the earth. In this case, the total length must be eighty-one Zirras; and it is five Zirras in circumference: Round it have been engraved literal charac-ters which the most intelligent of all religions have been unable to explain. Report says, this pillar is a monument of renown to the Rajuhs (or Hindoo Princes) and the Feerōz Shah set it up within his hunting place. But on this head there are various traditions, which it would be tedious to relate.”

William Finch (1608-11): “About 2 c. with out Dely is the remainder of an auncient more [mahal?] or hunting house, built by Sultan Berusa [Sultan Firoz Shah], a great Indian monarch, with much curiositie of stonework. With and above the rest is to be a stone pillar, which, passing through three stories, is higher then all twenty foure foot, having at the top a globe and a halfe moone over it. This stone, they say, stands as much under the earth, and is placed in the water, being all one entire stone; some say Nasendengady [Nasiruddin Ghāzi = N. Tughlak, son of Firoz Shāh?], a Potan king, would have taken it up and was prohibited by multitude of scorpions; and that it hath inscriptions. [...] From this monument is said to bee a way under ground to Dely castle. Now here remaine onely Googers, and there are store of deere.” (W. Foster 1921: 156f.) Padre Tieffenthaler (around 1766): “L’Obe-lisque de Feros (ou Firous) Roi des Afgans, que précéda Tamerlan de 150 ans, étoit de forme cylindrique & posé dans un endroit élevé, sur un piedestal (ou socle) quarré construit d’immenses pierres. On a fait sauter en l’air ce monument avec de la poudre; is se rompit en plusieurs morceaux don cinq sont encore existans. Le plus gros de ces fragments & en même temps celui qui est le plus proche de la base, a 1 ½ aune indienne en diametre, & il est long de 24 aunes. Le second n’est gueres moins épais, mais sa longueur n’est que de 14 aune. On y remarque des caracteres indoustans, sam-scrétans, de Guzarate, & quelques peu d’arabes. L’épaisseur du troisieme fragment est d’une aune; sa longueur, de 2. L’épais-seur & la longueur du quatrieme sont les mêmes que du troisieme. Le cinquieme enfin a moins d’une aune en diametre & n’est long que d’une aune & demie. Les longueurs ou hauteurs de ces différens

débris ajoutées ensemble font 9 aunes; mais on assure que la hauteur de l’obélisque entier a été de 20 aunes.

Inscriptions at this site