Tales of Historic Delhi PDF

# Tales of Historic Delhi: A Walk Through Its Many Cities ## Written and Illustrated by Premola Ghose ### Edited by Rohini Purang **To my mother who still feels a stranger in Delhi** ## Contents 1. Delhi Chalo! 2. Qutb Minar 3. Siri Fort 4. Nizamuddin 5. Tughlaqabad 6. Hauz Khas 7. Lodi Gardens...

# Tales of Historic Delhi: A Walk Through Its Many Cities ## Written and Illustrated by Premola Ghose ### Edited by Rohini Purang **To my mother who still feels a stranger in Delhi** ## Contents 1. Delhi Chalo! 2. Qutb Minar 3. Siri Fort 4. Nizamuddin 5. Tughlaqabad 6. Hauz Khas 7. Lodi Gardens 8. Humayun’s Tomb 9. Lal Qila 10. Chandni Chowk 11. Safdarjung’s Tomb 12. New Delhi 13. Timeline of Delhi ## Chapter 1: Delhi Chalo! It was the first time that the animals of Janwar Dosti had travelled all the way from the forests of Ranthambhore to the bustling, noisy, fascinating city of Delhi. Dr Kamala, the founder of Janwar Dosti, had decided that it was high time all the animals had a chance to see their country's capital city for themselves. "Did you know," Dr Kamala trilled in her musical voice, "that in 2011 New Delhi will be one hundred years old?" "Oooh, can we go to the party?" said Lucky the rabbit, hopping up and down with excitement. "Will there be cake?" said Tunnu the tiger (a.k.a. TT), who has surprisingly sweet tooth for a carnivore. "Pass the parcel!" yelled Bula the bear. "Presents!" shouted Lucky the rabbit, turning backflips. "Chowmein!" slurped Zero the giraffe (he had a thing about noodles). "QUIET!" thundered Dr Kamala. The animals all fell silent-briefly - as she went on. "There's no party. Cities don't have cake only people do." "But I saw a picture of a beautiful temple in Delhi that looked sort of like a cake all frosted with sugar icing..." butted in Tunnu. "And there's a huge tower thingy." added Bula, "that kind of looks like a candle... "You mean the Mutub Kittat," said Mayurdas the peacock, rather pompously. "Mutub... Oh. I think you mean the Qutb Minar said Dr Kamala. "And TT, dear, I think you're thinking of the Lotus Temple - it does look good enough to eat!" "Pardon me." came a voice. Tota the parrot came swooping down and settled on a low branch. He ruffled his bright green feathers. "I am a bit confused. I thought that Delhi was much, anch older than a hundred." Dr Kamala smiled. "You are right. Tota," she said. "I was only talking about New Delhi. Delhi is hundreds and hundreds of years old... and it's not even one city: it's lots of different cities built one on top of the other. Some people believe that in the Biblical times, when King Solomon was flying around on his throne on a dark night, he noticed a heavenly light beaming down on Delhi. 'What is this hallowed place that the light of the heavens shines down upon?' he asked. And the angels answered: 'It is the resting place of God's friend." "It sounds wonderful!" the animals chorused. "I have heard that now Delhi is a ruin," sniffed Tunnu, "no forests, no animals..." "Well," smiled Dr Kamala, "there are other things - cars, houses, shops, bathrooms, museums it's called the 'civilised world!" Bandar the monkey burst into hysterical laughter, "Civilisation!!!! Whazzat?" "Everything that you are not," said Tunnu, importantly. "Ma'am tell us more..." "I'll happily tell you." replied Dr Kamala. "But wouldn't you rather go see them yourselves?" "YES!" chorused the animals. They packed up their bags and hopped (and lumbered, and flew) onto the train heading for Delhi. When they got off at New Delhi Railway Station, they could not believe their eyes! Such a hustle and bustle! Such noise and honking! Cars and yellow-green auto rickshaws, bicycles and buses, overbridges and underpasses, Metro stations, bus stops, and... so many people! "Wow!" breathed Lucky the rabbit. "This is my kind of town!" He hopped on to Zero the giraffe's back, and they ambled off to explore. TT borrowed a scooter and went zooming off into the traffic, and Mayurdas and Tota flew up to the top of a big building to get a good look around. It was all so very different from their peaceful jungle and a bit overwhelming. Dr Kamala waved her rainbow umbrella in the air this was the signal for all the animals to follow her to a quiet spot near the Purana Qila. "Is it called 'purana' because it's the oldest thing in Delhi?" mused Lucky, gazing up at the fortress walls. "No," said Dr Kamala. "But that's a good guess - and it is pretty old. It was built in the 16th century by Sher Shah Suri. Some people think that it was built on the site of an ancient city called Indraprastha - that dates back to 2500 BC. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers built a spectacular city right here - with gardens and palaces and mansions whose gateways looked like the clouds and reached as high as the mountains." "Oh, I would love to have seen that," sighed Zero the giraffe. "It sounds really grand." "We're not really sure what it looked like then. But what we do know is that in the 8th century AD, the modern city of Delhi was established by Anang Pal Tomar. He built the beautiful tank of Suraj Kund which we can go visit later if you like." And so they did. ## Chapter 2: Qutb Minar The Qutb Minar is a minaret about 72m high, in an area of Delhi called Mehrauli. It is the world's tallest minaret and was built by India's first Muslim ruler, Qutbuddin Aibak. Construction started in 1193 and it took over 150 years to complete. The minaret has five storeys and 379 steps, and is surrounded by other buildings including a mosque, royal tombs and an iron pillar. The Qutb Complex is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a wonderful Sunday morning in December and tourists had come to visit the Qutb Minar. Humans, animals, birds and butterflies strolled and flitted around and the guard on duty was listening to Bollywood songs on his radio. Mayurdas the peacock was talking to no one in particular about the history of the first city of Delhi. "This city was earlier called Lal Kot. It was renamed Qila Rai Pithora when it was ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan. Prithviraj was defeated in 1192 AD by Muhammed Shamsuddin, who had come from Ghor in Afghanistan. The citadel of Qila Rai Pithora was destroyed, and the Qutb Minar and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque vere built on its ruins." Bandar the monkey and his new friend Bula the bear came to listen. "See, nothing has been wasted!" Mayurdas continued. "The temple pillars have been used to build the mosque's portico." ## Chapter 3: Siri Fort Siri Fort is present as runs of the city built in 1303, north of Mehrauli, nмат Shahpur Jat. The fort was built during the rule of Alauddin Khilji to defend Delhi and India against Mongol invasions and served as the seat of his power According to the legend of Alauddin's war exploits, it was called 'siri (head") because the foundations were built on the severed heads of about 8,000 Mongol soldiers killed in the twar. It is considered to be the first city built by the Muslims in India. The fort was once considered the pride of the city for its palace of a thousand pillars called the Hazar Sutan. The palace was built outside the fort limits, and had marble floors and other stone decoration. Now it is better known for the Sin Fort Auditorium, the Asiad Games Village Complex and residential and commercial establishments near the Siri Fort ruins. The animals made their way along a busy road called Khel Gaon Marg. "Where are we going now, Zero?" asked Lucky. "We're off to see Siri Fort there's not much of the original fort left, but it's still a fascinating area." the giraffe replied. "Tunnu, you've been reading up on Alauddin Khalji on the Net haven't you? Why don't you tell us all about it while we walk along?" TT was very proud to be asked, and she immediately began. "This forceful gu/ had to face several attacks from the Mongers of Central Asia. But he finally defeated then., and by 1308 the Mongols were no longer a breat ## Chapter 4: Nizamuddin Hazrat Nizamuddin is one of the many historic village settlements, about 2kan south of Purana Qila, on Mathura Road. It is named after the famous Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya. The dargah of Nizamuddin is situated here. The saint was popular amongst people of all faiths as he advocated tolerance for all religions. This shrine also houses the tomb of Amir Khusrau, a famous poet and the saint's beloved disciple. The area around the dargah, popularly known as Nizamuddin, is marked by crowded lanes, tombs and mosques, and small shops selling kebabs. Every Thursday, at sunset, the qawwals sing the lyrics of Amir Khusrau. Everyone knew that Ekmukhi the elephant had a spiritual side, so he was chosen to lead them to Nizamuddin, the resting place for one of the most famous Sufi saints of all time. As they approached, Ekmukhi told them a tale. "Bismillah! Once a taunting grocer harassed Bakhtiyar Kaki's wife saying 'Ha! If I were not so kind, you and your praying husband would starve. The Sufi heard this and forbade his wife to buy food on credit. Instead, he told her to recite the name of God at a niche in the wall. And lo and behold, a loaf of bread appeared. They never had to ask anyone for food again." "That's right," said Pandit Ooo Lala. "And did you know that the name 'Kaki' is derived from 'kak', meaning "bread"? The ruling sultan, Iltutmish, was a devotee of Bakhtiar Kasi. And when Kaki died in 1237, the funeral prayers were led by the Sultan himself. But not all Sufi ## Chapter 5: Tughlaqabad Tughlaqabad Fort constitutes almost one-third of the capital city of India. Lying to the east of the Qutb Minax, its towering citadel looks over the entire Qutb-Badarpur Road. The fortress was built by Ghiyasuddin Tuglaq, the founder of the Tughlag dynasty. The structure was built in less than four years to guard against the attacks by Mongols from central Asia, and also to serve as the capital for the ruler. It stands on a high, rocky ground with walls which reach to over 27 metres. This provided it with the necessary protection against attack. It is half-hexagonal in shape and has 13 doorways. The fort was abandoned soon after its construction with Ghiyasuddin's death in 1325. amesh the rhinoceros and Ekhmukhi the Relephant had found some detouk the grass and leaves to munch on outside the ramparts of the mini-fort that encloses the tomb of Ghiyasuddin, the first of the Tughlaqs. Beyond, were the crumbling ramparts of Tughlaqabad, the third city of Delhi, where a picnic was in full swing. Zero, TT, Lucky, Bula, Tota the parrot and Lahorimal the lion were lolling about and Dr Kamala was resting under a tree. Pandit Ooo Lala began the history lesson. "In 1321, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq built Tughlaqabad and its fort was protected by an artificia lake. The fort was connected to the tomb, also fortified, by a causeway..." but before he could get any further, Mayurdas butted in with a juicy tale. ## Chapter 6: Hauz Khas Hauz Khas twas named after the tank which Sultan Alauddin Khilji excavated in 1300, to supply water to his new city, Stri. Later, Firoze Shah Tughlaq repaired the tank and established a madrasa (college) on its banks. Firoze Shah also raised several monuments on the southern and eastern banks of the reservoir. The Madrasa, established in 1352. was considered the largest and best equipped Islamic school anywhere in the world. The road south to the urban village of Hauz Khas is lined on both sides by ancient stone monuments, and the entire village is dotted with domed structures. Hauz Khas Village is now a popular tourist spot, with art galleries. restaurants and trendy designer boutiques. L the ahorimal the lion led the way down narrow lanes and twisting gullies of Hauz Khas village. The leafy lane that led there reminded the animals of their home in Ranthambhore, and when they arrived at the village they were all in high spirits. Zero wanted to buy some necklaces for his family back home, and Lucky hopped up on his back eager to help him choose. The others, not particularly keen on shopping, wandered along to the end of the lane and found themselves at a grassy monument overlooking a large lake Mayurdas preened his feathers and launched into a history lesson. "Feroze Shah Tughlaq who ascended the throne of Delhi in 1351, was Muhammed's nephew." he began. "A scholarly man, Feroze Shat did ## Chapter 7: Lodi Gardens Situated between Khan Market and Safdarjung's Tomb, Lodi Gardens is an oasis of green. Here you'll find the 15th and 16th-century tombs of the Lodi and Sayyid Sultans. The gardens contain the tombs of Mohammad Shah and Sikander Lodi and other tombs, namely Bara Gumbad and Sheesh Gumbad. The tombs have the features typical of octagonal tombs, the stone chhajjas along the verandah arches and the sloping buttresses. Besides the tombs, there is the Bara Gumbad mosque, built with ashlar stone. Its rectangular prayer-hall has five arched openings and is a fine example of the early Mughal architecture. The gardens were re-landscaped by Joseph Allen Stein and Garrett Eckbo in 1968, and are now a popular spot for people jogging, bird-spotting, walking or just out for a picnic. The great Vietnamese monk. Thich Nhat Hanh, on his visit to India, was giving a teaching on the other side of the Lodi Garden wall. The subject was 'Interdependence' and how ants and bees intent on building anthills and beehives work together without ego and ambition for the good of all... "Guess what?" said TT peering over the wall. "The beehive and the anthill are the Sangha Wow! Let's go and see." They dashed off to where a group of ants were walking off sanctimoniously with their respective grains of sand. "Ouch!" criee TT in pain - an ant had given her a sharp nip. "I was only trying to get inspiration from you." ## Chapter 8: Humayun's Tomb Babur established the Mughal dynasty, defeated the Rajputs and Afghans, and lived his Indian years in Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna. Once, when his son Humayun fell dangerously ill, Babur offered his life to God so that his son could be saved. After his death, Humayun ascended to the throne, and he began to build yet another city-Dinpanah. His tomb was built in 1565 by his wife, Haji Begum. The tomb stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parts by causeways (charbagh). The Taj Mahal is thought to have been inspired by Humayun's Tomb. Pandit Ooo Lala was narrating the story of the Mughals to a group of owlets. "Alas, Humayun lost his kingdom to a bright young Afghan from Bihar, Sher Shah Suri, in 1540. Sher Shah moved into Dinpanah and completed the city. His short reign was most productive and Indo-Afghan architecture bloomed as never before. In the Purana Qila area, erstwhile Dinpanah, owlets, you must fly off and see some beautiful buildings: Qila-i-Kohna mosque. Lal Darwaza and Khairul Manazil. "Humayun stayed in exile at the Persian cou.t and there he learnt the imperial style. With the help of his general Bairam Khan, he won back the throne of Hindustan and returned Dinpanah. Alas, a year after he returned, in 1555 he fell to his death by falling down the high stains of the Sher Mandal, his library at the Purana . ## Chapter 9: Lal Qila Red Fort for Lal Qila) is one of the largest old monuments in Delhi. Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. It served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, and later as a military camp for the British. The last Mughal emperor to occupy the fort was Bahadur Shah Zafar The fort contains halls of public and private audience -Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas, respectively -domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and gardens. The entrance of the Fort is through Lahore Gate, named so because it faces Lahore (now in Pakistan), which leads to Chandni Chowk. Zero was in no mood to linger today. "We've already been in Delhi for a week and we still haven't seen Red Fort - Lal Qila - the most famous monument of them all. Come on, slowcoaches!" They stood amont the beautiful palaces looking up at the ramparts, from where the Emperor used to command fights between elephants below. "I wonder if I could get two Emperors to fight instead?" wondered Ekhmukhi, scratching his head with his trunk. Mayurdas was on the roof of Diwan-i-Khas, built entirely with white marble, trilling to the beauty of its architecture: "If on earth be an rien of bliss, it is this, it is this, it is this..." "At first, Shah Jahan ruled from Agra bei he found it just too hot and crowded. So, ir he ## Chapter 10: Chandni Chowk Chandni Chouk is one Delhi's oldest markets. The historical accounts of the market detail the times of trade when merchants from Turkey, China, Holland and other distant lands used to come here, with exotic weapons, exotic birds and tapestry. It is said that it was once lined with beautiful fountains and canals. The moon reflected in the main canal was said to have given the place it's name ('chandni" means 'moon'). Although it is now a busy, crowded market, much of its old-world charm still remains. Here you'll also find the massive Jama Masjid, the 17th-century mosque. Chandni Chowk is one of the narrowest, busiest and most prosperous trading centres of Delhi- a fascinating maze of shops and eateries, most of which are no more than two by five feet. Tunnu hired a cycle rickshaw to drive down Chandni Chowk, from the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, the heart of Shahjahanabad. Her guide book was a mine of information, and she read it out aloud as they pedalled through the crowded, noisy streets. "Shahjahanabad, built according to the Hirdu architectural principles of Vaastu Shastra, is shaped like a bow and fronted by the river. There are coffee shops here, where once swashbuckling noblemen and princes flocked to hear the latest couplets by great parts such as Bedil, Dard, Sauda and Mir Taqi Mir. On a moonlit night the central canal, Nahi-i-Bihisht (Canal of Paradise) was liquid white ## Chapter 11: Safdarjung’s Tomb Safdarjung's tomb is a garden tomb in a marble mausoleum located at the start of Lodi Road. It was built in 1754 by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, the son of Safdarjung (Viceroy of Awadh during the Mughal Empire). It represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture. The tomb of Safdarjung was built in red sandstone and buff stone. There are four water canals leading to several smaller Pavilions like Jangli Mahal, Moti Mahal and Badhah Pasand. The complex also has a madrasa. The Archeological Surivy of India maintains a library over the main gatruas. L ahorimal, lolling in the banana grove and listening to Bula and Lucky clumsily making music, mused. Jahandar Shah was quite a merry monarch and fell madly in love with a singing-dancing girl. Lal Kunwar, who came from a family of musicians. He made her the Empress of Hindustan! That's quite bold. what do you think, Tota?" Tota was amused. "Jolly sporting of Jahandar! A very sour observer wrote that Delhi at the time was immersed 'in a life of ease and pleasute and music, both vocal and instrumental. reached such heights that in all quarters of the city, except for the sounds of music and lusty shouting, no other sound was heard." "God!" Lahorimal exclaimed. "I do hope they were better musicians than Lucky and Bula or else..." He lunged at them in mock anger. Lucky stopped singing and squealed with delight. ## Chapter 12: New Delhi The skyline of Delhi, once famed for its minarets, domes and battlements, is now dominated by office blocks and flyovers. The horrors of Partition and large-scale migrations created problems in decades following Independence. Connaught Place was completed in 1933 and was intended to be the showpiece of Lutyens' Delhi. It is built in two concentric circles, with a garden in the centre-underneath which now, there is the metro station. CP (as it is known) was named after the Duke of Connaught, and most people still call it that, although it's official name is Rajiv Chowk after the late Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Just south of CP is the grand boulevard of Rajpath, with the parliament buildings and the President's House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and one end, and India Gate at the other. Delhi's population has always been very mixed, with people streaming in from all parts of India and from other countries too. Delhi has survived and has, in the twenty-first century, boomed with a population of almost 14 million! The pace is fast as the city hurries to catch up with the world. Iucky the rabbit had found a cyber café and was chatting online with his American e-pal. Chocolate Moose of Yellowstone Park. "We're having a great time in Delhi," he typed. "i's amazing how much history has happened here! I just met some British travellers who are here for a holiday- but 150 years back, the Br tish were the rulers here! They established their own city in what is now called Civil Lines - ap near Delhi University. After 1857, all the heroes of the Hindu epics and all that Islamic heritage ## Chapter 13: Timeline of Delhi 1000 BCE Late Harappan settlements 300-200 BCE Purana Qila settlement. Legend has it that this was the site of Indraprastha (also called Inderpat), the capital of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. (Disputed dates 5000 BCE or 1400 BCE). Mid-3rd century BCE Ashokan edict. 736 700-1160 CE Tomara dynasty Anang Pal builds the fortified Lal Kot. Surrounding area also known as Dhillika or Voginipura. 1160-1192 Chauhan dynasty 1180 Lal Kot captured by Chauhans and renamed Qila Rai Pithora. 1206-1526 Rule of the Delhi Sultanate, includes the Mamluk (Slave), Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. 1206 Qutbuddin Aibak becomes the first Sultan of Delhi. 1211 Iltutmish becomes Sultan. Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki of the Chisti order sets up his chilla at Mehrauli. 1221 Mongol invasions begin in India and continue till 1327. 1233 Iltutmish shifts the iron pillar, supposed to have been erected by Chandragupta II at a temple in Udayagiri, to the Qutb complex. 1236 Raziya becomes Sultana. 1261 Nizamuddin Auliya arrives in Delhi. 1266 Balban becomes Sultan. 1290 Jalaluddin Khalji becomes Sultan. 1296 Alauddin assassinates his uncle, Jalaluddin Khalji, and becomes Sultan. 1303 Foundations of Siri laid Alauddin Khalji. Chittor falls. 1306 Malik Kafur's invasion of South India begins. 1316 Death of Alauddin Khaliji. 1320 Death of Mubarak Shah. End of Khalji dynasty. 1320 Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq becomes Sultan of Delhi. 1321 Construction of Tughlaqabad begins. Completed in 1324. 1324 Muhammed bin Tughlaq becomes Sultan of Delhi. 1325 Death of Nizamuddin and Amir Khusrau. 1326 Muhammed bin Tughlaq shifts his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, but soon returns to Delhi to establish a new city named Jahanpahah. 1334 Ibn Batutta visits Delhi and lives here till 1341. 1351 Death of Muhammed bin Tughlaq. Feroze Shah Tughlaq. Sultan of Delhi, builds Ferozabad, also called Feroze Shah Kotla  1354 Madrasa of Hauz Khas built. 1356 Death of Naziruddin Mahmud Chiragh-e-Dilli. 1398 Timur of Samarkand sets out to invade India. 1414-1421 Rule of Sayyid dynasty 1451 Bahlol Khan Lodi becomes Sultan. 1504 Sikander Lodi shifts his capital from Delhi to gra. 1526 Ibrahim Lodi dies, ending the Delhi Sultanate. 1526-1540 Mughal dynasty 1526 Babur, a Central Asian prince, invades India, defeats the Lodi Sultan. 1530 Hanayun becomes Emperor and builds Dinpanah, in the village of Inderpat. and establishes the Mughal dynasty. 1537 Sher Shah Suri Pashtun defeats Humayun, establishes the Suri dynasty, and becomes Sultan. He improves Dinpanalh, now known as Purana Qila, and repairs the Grand Trunk road that runs from Lahore to Dhaka and passes through Delhi. 1540-1555 Suri dynasty 1355 Humayun overthrows the Suri dynasty, becomes Emperor and re-establishes the Mughal dynasty. He dies in 1556. 1555-1857 Mughal dynasty 1556 Akbar becomes Emperor. Humayun's tomb is built. 1605 Jehangir becomes Emperor. 1628 Shah Jahan becomes Emperor. 1639 Building of Shahjahanabad (now called Old Delhi) and Red Fort. 1644 Jama Masjid built 1658 Aurangzeb becomes Emperor. 1650 Chandni Chowk designed by Jahanara Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan. 1707-1719 Several weak Mughal Emperors. The Emperor comes under the protection of the Mahrattas. 1719 Muhammed Shah Rangeela becomes Emperor. 1724 Present Hanuman Mandir built. Jantar Mantar built in Delhi by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. 1739 Nadir Shah of Persia invades India. 1748-1805 Rapid decline of the Mughal Empire. 1857 Indian Mutiny. Bahadur Shah Zafar, last Mughal Emperor, is defeated by the British. 1858-1947 British Raj 1877 First Delhi Durbar, where the British Queen, Victoria I is proclaimed Empress of India. 1903 Delhi Durbar to commerate coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (King and Queen of England) as Emperor and Empress of India. 1911 Delhi Durbar to commemorate coronation of George V and Queen Mary (King and Queen of England) as Emperor and Empress of India. Capital of British Raj moved from Calcutta to Delhi. 1912 Raisina Hill selected as site of buildings for new capital. Edwin Lutyens appointed consultant for design and construction of the buildings. 1914-1918 World War I. Indian soldiers fight on behalf of England. 1916 New Delhi Municipal Committee established. 1929 Edwin Lutyens completes design and construction of New Delhi (also called Lutyen's Delhi). 1931 New Delhi inaugurated. 1947 India becomes an independent country. Partition. 1947 Independent India 1968 Already existing Lodi Gardens (known as Lady Willingdon Park) re-landscaped by the American architect, J.A. Stein. 1987 Baha'i temple built (also known as the Lotus Temple). 1992 Statue of the Buddha installed at Buddha Jayanti Park. 1998 Construction of Delhi Metro begins. 2007 Select City Mall opened. 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi. POETS 1532-1623 Tulsidas, Avadhi poet, thought to have composed the Hanuman Chalisa at the site of present-day Hanuman Mandir. 1642-1720 Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil, Persian poet. 1706-1781 Mirza Muhammed Rafi Sauda, Persian and Urdu poet. 1721-1785 Khvaja Mir Dard, Persian and Urdu poet. 1723-1810 Mir Taqi Mir, Urdu poet. 1797-1869 Mirza Ghalib, Urdu poet.