Fatehpur Sikri

February 28, 2015

These are two villages - Sikri and after Babur's Victory over Rana Sangha of Mewar in 1527AD, another town called Fatehpur was established to commemorate the battle. This hilltop village did not get much further attention for the next two dozen years as water on top of hill was in short supply.

Then came Childless Akbar, whenever he found time after his military campaigns he would visit a Sufi saint named Salim Chisti at Fatehpuri. This saint had established this place as his home after Babur sort of left it alone. Babur and His successors ruled from nearby Agra Fort called Red Fort. When  Akbar came to power he messed around with a multitude of female consorts and his queens but they would bear him no son. At last, he approached this Sufi Saint Chisti for his blessings in about 1570AD. Lord behold, Akbar had a son. Overjoyed  Akbar decided to build a new city, a new seat of government and an army barracks at Fatehpuri. I am sure Saint Chisti must have been overjoyed with the additional attention, although the saint still kept this place as his but allowed Akbar to build around it.

Now the problem begins, there is no fresh water. The wells sunk produced brackish water. The problem had shown up earlier but Akbar paid no attention to it. But when, it came to the point to begin living there, they found water unfit. Even Akbar came in person once and twice, he brought his queens also to the new palace, but long range prognosis was not good. For three consecutive years Akbar's engineers tried to raise water about 100 feet from the wells at lower level where water was good but did not succeed. They summoned experts from elsewhere including Baghdad but of no avail. Hence the proud emperor gave up in 1583AD. 

Then Fatehpur - Sikri, the twin city was abandoned. It remained occupied by the Chisti saints, who call it a home and are buried their for the last 16 generations. The cart the water away. During rainy season it is collected in a cistern, but off season it is carried on camels for a small number of saint's retinue who continue to occupy the hill top. Today, electricity pumps it up there.

This huge expenditure during the Akbar's rein was a waste. If there was a parliamentary system like today, people would have asked for his head. They dared not do it, as all power rested with the king, they could be hanged still worst, die under the foot of his many elephants, head crushed. He even forbade Abdul Fazal, his official historian to record it in his biography. 

Today it is relic of the past, where people visit it not to see king's failure but to visit the grave site of Saint Salim Chisti and ask for more personal blessings. Myself and Sushma also asked for his blessings as we have one son to marry.

You now have account of Vindaban, Mathura and Fatehpur- Sikri. I had visited Taj Mahal. There is no point of writing about it as guys know all about it.

 

Cheers

Hari Sud