ORIGIN OF DELHI: WITH TIMELINE
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
I wrote a BLOG on DELHI some Moons ago, URL of which is listed below.
Subsequently I received several requests to answer – how ‘DELHI’ got its name, and try to link the City with a time line of Rulers.
In this BLOG, I attempted that.
The etymology of “Delhi” is relatively uncertain. The most common view is that its eponym is Dhillu or Dhilu, a king, who built this city and named it after himself. A ruler of the Dhillon dynasty, Raja Dhilu (King Dhilu) founded Delhi and the dynasty ruled it from 800 BC-283 BC. Raja Dhillu was the Original Founder of Delhi & Anangpal was the Re-builder of Delhi. “Dhillu ki Delhi” is, as the saying goes.
This is mentioned in texts like Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s “Satyarth Prakash”. Satyarth Prakash is a great text written by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj. Originally written in Hindi, it was first published in 1875.
I read it about 20 years ago, and took some notes.
The Dhillon dynasty refers to the historical lineage of the Dhillon clan, one of the largest and most influential Jat clans in the Punjab region of undivided India, Northern region. Historically, the dynasty was most famously associated with the founding of Delhi and subsequently known for the leadership of the powerful Bhangi Misl during the 18th century.
Ancestry: Traditional accounts trace the Dhillon lineage back to the grandson of the legendary figure Karna from the Mahabharata.
Delhi’s history as a capital can be divided into three major periods:
1.0 Ancient Age: — This I intend to cover from ‘INDRAPRASTHA’ to Raja Dhilu.
2.0 Medieval Period: I & II
Tomara and Chauhan Dynasties (c. 736–1206 CE)
The Tomars are credited with establishing the first medieval city of Delhi, known as Lal Kot.
Anangpal Tomar I (c. 736–754): Founded the dynasty and enlarged the city.
Surajpal Tomar (c. 812–850): Built the Suraj Kund reservoir.
Anangpal Tomar II (c. 1051–1081): Rebuilt the city and expanded Lal Kot.
Prithviraj Chauhan (1180–1192): Last Hindu ruler before the Sultanate; renamed Lal Kot to Qila Rai Pithora.
The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE) :
The Sultanate was ruled by five distinct dynasties.
Mamluk (Slaves): Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultana, 1206–1290
Khilji: Balban Khalji, Jalal-ud-din Khalji, Alauddin Khalji:1290–1320
Tughlaq Dynasty: Ghiyasuddin, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, :1320–1414
Shah Dynasty:Firoz Shah, Sayyid Khizr Khan, Mubarak Shah, Alauddin Alam Shah: 1414–1451
Lodi Dynasty: Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi 1451–1526
Mughal Empire and Suri Interregnum (1526–1857 CE)
The Mughals established a standing empire, briefly interrupted by the Afghan Suri.
Babur (1526–1530): Founded the empire after the first Battle of Panipat.
Humayun (1530–1540; 1545–1556): Lost and then regained the throne.
Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545): Ruled during the interruption of Mughal rule.
Akbar (1556–1605): Consolidated and expanded the empire.
Shah Jahan (1628–1658): Built the city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) and the Red Fort.
Aurangzeb (1658–1707): Last of the “Great Mughals”.
After that, Mughals were virtually a Vassal State of Mahrattas.
Bahadur Shah Zafar II (1837–1857) was more of a titled Badshah.: The final Mughal emperor, deposed by the British in Rangoon.
British (EIC) actually took control of India by defeating Mahrattas. With India becoming part of British crown—the medieval age of Delhi was concluded.
British Raj (1858–1947 CE) :
India was ruled by the British Crown following the 1857 revolt. In 1911, King George V announced the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
Independent India regained freedom, but in a truncated manner, and Britishers left India in 1947.
Delhi became, and remained the Capital of Independent India, and the oldest kingdom city, with some intervals—if we accord historic credence to ‘INDRAPRASTHA’.
Requests refer, and read the ‘BLOG’, using the URL below for further information.
https://sarasijmajumder.in/indraprastha-becomes-delhi-history-of-5000-years/
