Siri Fort
Part of South Delhi
New Delhi, India
Southern Gate Ruins of the Siri Fort near Panchsheel Park
Type	Afghan-Saljuq-styled Fort
Coordinates	28°33′09″N 77°13′25″E / 28.5524°N 77.2235°E / 28.5524; 77.2235Coordinates: 28°33′09″N 77°13′25″E / 28.5524°N 77.2235°E / 28.5524; 77.2235
Built	c. 1303
Built by	Khilji Dynasty
Construction materials	Stone and Bricks
Demolished	1540 - 1545
Current condition	Ruin
Open to the public	Yes
Controlled by	Indian Government
Battles/wars	Mongol siege of Delhi
Siri Fort wall and Tohfe Wala Gumbad dome near the village of Shahpur Jat.

Siri Fort, in the city of New Delhi, was built during the rule of Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate to defend the city from the onslaught of the Mongols.^[1][2][3] It was the second of the seven cities of medieval Delhi built around 1303 (stated to be the first entirely constructed by Muslims), which at present is seen only in ruins with a few remnants (pictured)^[4][5]

Near the Siri Fort ruins modern auditoriums, the Asiad Games Village Complex and residential and commercial establishments fill the modern landscape between the Khel Gaon Marg and the Auro Bindo Marg in the heart of South Delhi.^[6][7][8]

History[link]

Alaud'din is the best known of the Khalji dynasty because he extended his dominion to Southern India and established the second city of Delhi, Siri.^[9] He created Siri between 1297 and 1307 to defend against Mongol invasions of India and Delhi. In response he built Siri Fort, mimicked massive Turkish ones. The Fort served as the seat of his power during his campaigns to enlarge his territory. Due to frequent Mongol invasions of West Asia, the Saljuqs took asylum in Delhi. The craftsmen of Seljuq dynasty are credited with this era's architectural monuments in Delhi.^[3][10]

Targhi, a Mongol ruler, besieged the Siri fort when Ala-ud-din Khalji retreated during the Mongol expedition into India. Targhi could not penetrate the fortifications of the Siri Fort and he finally retreated to his Kingdom in Central Asia. But this attack forced Allauddin to strengthen his defenses at the borders which enabled him to keep the Mongols away – Ali Beg and Tartaq and their army – after they attacked and plundered Punjab and Amroha. Alauddin deputed his two generals Ghazi Malik and Malik Kafur to repel the Mongol attack. The Mongol army was soundly beaten before they could return to Central Asia with their plunder; All the generals and soldiers of the Mongol army were captured and brought to Siri where they were trampled to death by elephants and decapitated. The Mongols tried to attack one last time in 1306 AD but Ghazi Malik (who was the Governor of Punjab) annihilated the entire attacking Mongol army (believed to be 50,000 strong). Subsequent ruthless attacks by Allauddin’s army, deep into Mongol territory in Kandahar, Ghazni and Kabul in Afghanistan ensured that Mongols would never attack India again. His military strategies were thus aimed at building an Indian Empire, which he had mostly succeeded. He consolidated his territory, ruled with military might for 20 years and was considered the “first real Emperor of India”.^[11]

Siri, which is now a part of New Delhi, was later linked to the fortifications of Jahanpanah. Siri was then also known as “Darul Khilafat” or ‘’Seat of Califate’’^[12] In 1398 AD, Timurlane, the Mongol ruler who invaded Delhi, wrote in his memoirs, “ the Siri is a round city. Its buildings are lofty. They are surrounded by fortifications built of stone and brick, and they are very strong – from the fort of Siri to that of Old Delhi, which is a considerable distance – there runs a strong wall built of stone and cement. The part called Jahanpanah is situated in the midst of the inhabited city. The fortifications of the three cities (old Delhi, Siri and Tughlaqabad) have thirty gates. Jahanpanah has thirteen gates, Siri has seven gates. The fortifications of the Old Delhi have ten gates, some opening to the exterior and some towards the interior of the city.”

Legend[link]

According to the legend of Ala-ud-din’s war exploits, the name Siri given to the Fort was because the foundation of the fort was built on the severed heads (‘Sir’ in Hindi means “head”) of about 8,000 Mongol soldiers killed in the war.^{[1][13][14][15][16]}

Another version of the legend refers to the war crimes committed by Allauddin when the Mongol army was defeated and the captured soldiers were brought to Siri and trampled by elephants, then their severed heads were hung on the walls of the Siri Fort.^[11][15]

Structure[link]

View of Tohfe Wala Masjid in Siri Fort area near Shahpur Jat village

It is near to the Shahpur jat village inhabitied by Jats of the Panwar Gotra.Siri Fort was built 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north-east of the Qutab Minar on an old camp near Delhi.^[3] The first city is considered to be built by Muslims, it was in an oval shape; its ruins are presently seen in an area of about 1.7 km² (0.7 sq mi).^[9]

Allauddin, the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty, laid the foundation for the City of Siri in 1303 AD. The structures built in Siri were stated to have had a fine imprint of the enthusiasm of the rulers of Khalji dynasty (particularly, the first three out of six Rulers of the Dynasty) with Allauddin's deep interests in architecture and his achievements supported by the imported skills of the artists of Saljuqs richly contributing to the efforts to build the new city.^[4] Legend states that Allauddin's prolific building involved engagement of 70,000 workers. The city was built with an oval plan with palaces and other structures. There were seven gates for entry and exit, but at present only the Southeastern gate exists.

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. Its Darwaza (door) is supposed to have been beautifully decorated. In eastern part of the ruins there are remnants of flame shaped battlements, loop holes for arrows, and bastions, which were considered unique new additions of that period.

In the nearby Shahpur Jat village (pictured), some dilapidated structures of the period are seen. Tohfewala Gumbad Masjid (pictured) is one such structure whose ruins show the form of domed central apartment and sloping wall characteristic of Khaljis architecture.^[4]

Apart from building the Siri Fort, the citadel around it and the water supply system with a reservoir at Hauz Khas Complex (in present Hauz Khas locality) for providing water supply to Siri, his new city, Ala-ud-din also expanded the building activity around the religious city of the first city complex of Qutb complex by making additions to the Quwwatul-Islam Mosque, which doubled its original size, additions to the Qutub Minar itself (Nagari inscriptions on the tower attribute to this tower as "Vijaya sthamba" or victory tower of Ala-ud-din) and a grandiose plan of constructing a new Minar (tower) bigger (double) that of the Qutub Minar. This plan was left half completed, as may be seen from the ruins at the site, due to the death of Allauddin in 1316.^[3][4][15]

The destruction of the Fort is attributed to the local rulers who removed the fort's stones, bricks and other artifacts for their own buildings. In particular, Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545), of Pashtun Afghan descent from Eastern India (Bihar), took away material from Siri to build his own city.^[3][15]

The battered walls of the fort had a wider base on the outside. A protected passage was provided within the battered walls (now seen in ruins as pictured).^[15]

Excavation[link]

The rest of the structures remained unexplored by Archeologists and these were unknowingly buried when the Asiad Village Complex was built in 1982 for the Asiad 1982.^[17]ASI has now launched an excavation programme, since December 2008, to unearth some portions of the wall concealed for centuries which will enable exposing the entire wall providing a continuous link with the earlier excavated stretches of the wall.^[18]

Siri Fort Sports Complex[link]

Siri Fort Asia Village complex

Siri Fort encircled by Sports Complex and Gulmohar Park	Siri Fort Sports Complex

Near the ruins of the ancient fort city, the Asian Village Complex, popularly known as the Siri Fort Complex, was developed during the Asiad 1982 (the 1982 Asian Games) sports event. The complex was developed in the land around the Siri Fort ruins for the sports event involved. Among these buildings are a large sports complex of courts for tennis, badminton and basketball, a swimming pool, a golf course, gymnasium, aerobics centre, jogging tracks, cricket grounds, large auditoriums, upscale residential buildings, deluxe food joints and commercial establishments. This complex is now under further refurbishing and expansion for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, amidst protests and court interventions.^[19][20]

Restoration works

As part of beautifying the ancient monuments before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodians of heritage monuments in Delhi, have begun restoration works of several structures which includes the Siri Fort walls. According to their evaluation of three stretches of the fort walls, the first stretch nearer to the Asiad Village is in good shape, the second stretch next to the Panchsheel Park would need conservation actions costing Rs 50 lakhs (US $ 100,000) and the third stretch next to the Asiad village needs conservation measures costing Rs 5 lakhs (US $ 10,000). In addition, the stretch adjoining Panchsheel Park, which has been evaluated as in a bad shape, has also been identified for undertaking restoration works at a cost of Rs 30 lakhs (US $60,000).^[21]

The Location

The Fort is located at the southern end of Hauz Khas and is 13 km (8.1 mi) from Delhi. It is approachable from Panchseel road in South Delhi. The road from Moolchand to Chirag Delhi passes through the middle of the fort precincts.^[4] An auditorium complex (three auditoriums) within the Siri Fort area run by the Government of India has a combined seating capacity of over 2,500. It is a prestigious entertainment centre in New Delhi where film festivals, dance performances, plays and music recitals are organized.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Ruins of the Siri Fort wall

• 

  Siri Fort Auditorium

• 

  Closeup view of flanking wall of the gate

• 

  Fort wall ruins in the park

References[link]

v t e Forts in India Vijayanagara Gingee Fort Bangalore Fort Udayagiri Fort Vellore Fort Deccan sultanates Ahmednagar Fort Gawilghur Narnala Panhala Fort Gujarat Sultanate Mahim Fort Delhi Sultanate Aligarh Fort Bandhavgarh Fort Qila Mubarak Siri Fort Tughlaqabad Salimgarh Fort Daulatabad Various Nayaks Chitradurga Fort Bekal Fort Dindigul Fort Gingee Fort Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort Chandragiri fort Hosdurg Fort Malwa Sultanate Mandsaur Fort Faruqi dynasty Asirgarh Laling Thalner Rajput Achalgarh Amber Fort Chittorgarh Fort Jaigarh Fort Jaisalmer Fort Jalore Fort Junagarh Fort Kankwadi Kumbhalgarh Nagaur Fort Nahargarh Fort Taragarh Fort Lal Kot Gwalior Fort Kalinjar Hinglajgarh Mehrangarh Fort Narwar Fort Senapati fortress Bahu Fort Kangra Fort Ranthambore Fort Maratha Dongri Fort Harishchandragad Kolaba Fort Lohagad Sudhagad Sinhagad Tikona Panhala Fort Pratapgad Vishalgad Rajgad Sindhudurg Vijaydurg Shivneri Raigad Gajendragarh Gingee Fort Shaniwar Wada Jhansi Fort Hinglajgarh Manora Visapur Fort Sadashivgad Mughal Empire Old Fort, Delhi Qila Rai Pithora Chanderi fort Agra Fort Allahabad Fort Fatehpur Sikri Red Fort Akola Fort Jat Gohad Fort Lohagarh Fort Nahar Singh Mahal Mysore kingdom Devanahalli Fort Palakkad Fort Bekal Fort Sankagiri Fort Siddi Murud-Janjira Belapur Fort Underi Travancore Vattakottai Fort Udayagiri Fort East Fort Portuguese Bassein Fort Bombay Castle Fort Arnala Castella de Aguada Korlai Fort Madh Fort St. Angelo Fort Pallipuram Fort Fort Aguada Fort Anjediva Cranganore Fort Ghodbunder fort Diu Fort Terekhol Fort British Raj Fort St. George Fort William Bombay Fort Riwa Fort Worli Fort Mazagon Fort Sion Hillock Fort Sewri Fort Mahim Fort Thalassery Fort Fort St. David Durrani Empire Hari Parbat Sur Empire Rohtasgarh Munger Fort Ahom Dynasty Talatal Ghar Garchuk Lachit Garh

Kumar Vishwas
Occupation	Professor, Poet, Associate Professor
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Education	M.A., PhD., DLit
Genres	Romantic Poetry
Notable award(s)	Hindi-Punjabi Award Committee, Uttar Pradesh “Sahitya Shree-2006” Geet Shree 2010
www.kumarvishwas.com

Kumar Vishwas' (डॉ. कुमार विश्वास ) (also spelt as Vishvas or Vishwas) (born 10 February 1970) is a renowned Hindi Poet and a professor of Hindi Literature from Pilkhuwa[1], Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Early life and education[link]

Kumar Vishwas was born on 10 February 1970, in Pilkhuwa, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh in a Gaur Brahmin family. He is the youngest among four brothers and a sister. He started his schooling from Lala Ganga Sahay School, Pilkhuwa where he spent a part of his childhood. His father Dr. Chandra Pal Sharma was Lecturer in R.S.S. Degree College, Pilkhuwa affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut and his mother Smt. Rama Sharma is a home maker. After completing his intermediate from Rajputana Regiment Inter College, Pilkhuwa, his father wanted him to be an Engineer, but he had a passion for Poetry right from the childhood. He took no interest in engineering and decided to make career in the field of Poetry. He did Post Graduation in Hindi Literature.

Career[link]

Vishvas started his career as a professor in the year 1994 from Rajasthan. He has been teaching Hindi Literature to higher class students of Lala Lajpat Rai College for the last sixteen years.^[1]

Works and achievements[link]

Vishvas is a Poet of Hindi language. He is a poet of Shringara-Ras (Romantic Genre).^[2] He has participated in several Kavi sammelan and is a very renowned poet.

His fan communities on social networking websites like Orkut,^[3] and Facebook^[4] have largest number of fans as compared to other Hindi poets.^{[citation needed]} Also, his videos on YouTube have in excess of 40 million views.^[5] His website^[6] is a frequently visited website among youths.^{[citation needed]}

Dr Kumar Vishvas has written the 'Kul-Geet' or the University Anthem of Chaudhary Charan Singh University.^[7]

Besides being a known face among Hindi-knowing people across the world as a Poet, Dr Kumar Vishvas has been involving himself in several Social works. He is an active and renowned member of the Civil Society. He has been an integral part of Veteran Social Leader Anna Hazare's 'India against corruption' mission along with Mr Arvind Kejriwal and Mr Manish Sisodia for which he was arrested on 16 August 2011.^[8]

Performances[link]

Vishvas has been performing regularly in Kavi sammelan all over India and abroad. The list includes Thapar University, BIT SINDRI, Sindri , INDIAN SCHOOL OF MINES, Dhanbad, Jamia Hamdard University, IIIT Hyderabad, RKGIT Ghaziabad, NIFT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati, NIT ROURKELA, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee,^[9] IIT Kharagpur,^[10] IIT Bubaneshwar,^[11] Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi,^[12] DA-IICT Gandhinagar, B.J. Medical College Ahmadabad , Sri Ram Murti Smarak College of Engineering and Technology Bareilly, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College Moradabad, MNIT Jaipur, Management Development Institute Gurgaon, Fore School of Management New Delhi, NIT Surat, B.S.Anangpuria Institute of Technology and Management Faridabad,^[13] KIIT University Bhubaneswar,^[14] NSIT Delhi, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra IIITM Gwalior, CDGI INDORE,^[15] Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi,^[16] MNNIT Allahabad,^[17] NIT Patna,^[18][19] IIM Lucknow,^[20] NIT Jalandhar,^[21] NIT Trichy,^[22] NIT Durgapur, BITS, Pilani,^[23] LNCT Bhopal,^[24] MERI Kolkata, [(Maharaja Sayaji Rao University ,Baroda|http://www.msubaroda.ac.in/)] B.I.T. Sindri,^[25] IET Lucknow, SSGPURC hoshiarpur, JIIT, Noida^[26], KNIT Sultanpur and MITS, Gwalior^[27], Institute of Technology- BHU and Babasaheb Naik College Of Engineering Pusad.(Maharashtra)and several other institutions across India.

He has also been a part of corporate celebration across India.^{[citation needed]}

Besides performing in almost all parts of India, Dr Kumar Vishvas has also performed in countries like USA,^[28] Dubai,^[29] Singapore^[30], Japan ^[31] Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Nepal etc.

Awards[link]

• Kavya – Kumar in 1994 by Dr. Kunwar Baichain Kavya samman avam puruskaar samiti^[32]
• Dr. Suman Alankarna in 2004 by Sahitya Bharti, Unnao.^[32]
• Sahitya Shree - 2006 by Hindi-Punjabi Award Academy.^[33]
• Dr Urmilesh "Geet Shree" Samman, 2010 by Dr Urmilesh Jan Chetna Samiti, Badaun.^[34]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website

Shafqat Amanat Ali
Shafqat Amanat Ali during Waves 2010,annual cultural fest of BITS Pilani-Goa
Background information
Born	(1965-02-26) 26 February 1965 (age 47) Lahore, Pakistan
Genres	Rock music, Sufi, playback singing, Classical Music
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2000-till present
Associated acts	Fuzön
Website	www.shafqatamanatali.com

Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan (Urdu: شفقت امانت علی; born 26 February 1965) is a Pakistani classical singer^[1] belonging to Patiala Gharana lineage.^[2] He is the youngest brother of the late Asad Amanat Ali Khan.^[3] He was the lead vocalist of the Pakistani rock band Fuzön. He was awarded the President's Pride of Performance civil award on August 14, 2007.

Early life and background[link]

Shafqat Amanat Ali was born in Lahore to Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, on 26 February 1965 making him the nineth generation of Patiala Gharana. He received his bachelor's degree from Government College University, Lahore (now known as GC University). He received the role of honor from the Music Society of Government College University, Lahore, which is led by Tariq Farani son of UM Saleem Shah.^[4]

He started learning classical music at age four, his grandmother being his first teacher. His main influences in music come from his father and his uncle Bade Fateh Ali Khan.

Career[link]

"Aankhon Ke Saagar," "Khamaj," "Ankhiyan" and "Mitwa" are some of his most popular works. He also sang the songs "Phir Wohi Raastey" and "Allah Megh De" for a Pakistani film named Ramchand Pakistani.^[5]

Shafqat was introduced to Bollywood by Shankar Mahadevan. One morning while driving to his studio, he heard Shafqat's hit song "Aankhon Ke Saagar" on the radio. He immediately called the radio jockey who was his friend and got Shafqat's contact number. Shafqat sang "Mitwa" composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy for the movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.^[6] The song was listed in the top charts in India, helping propel Shafqat into stardom.^[7] He was the voice behind the critically acclaimed song "Yeh Honsla" [sic] in the Bollywood film Dor. He sang background for the films Hello and Mumbai Cutting.^[8][9] His songs "Mora Saiyaan" and "Tere Bina" were featured in Nagesh Kukunoor's Hyderabad Blues 2.

After leaving the band Fuzon in 2006, Shafqat concentrated on his solo career.^[10] Based on folk and Sufi works, the album Tabeer was commissioned and released by Music Today in mid-September 2008.^[11][12][13]

The album was released by Fire Records in Pakistan in September 2008 as their mega Eid release. The entire album has been produced, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered in Pakistan by Shani Haider (Zeeshan Haider) at "Couple of Good Studios". All songs except "Naina" and "Tu hi tu hai" were composed by Shafqat. Naina was composed by Shani Haider.

The first video of the premier song of the album, "Khairheyan De Naal", was aired on all channels in India and Pakistan.^{[citation needed]} He has fondly been nicknamed the "Rock star Ustad" by Saleem Merchant of the Saleem-Suleman duo.^[14] He also appeared on the Rubaroo episode of Indian Idol 4.^[15] He released his second solo album Kyun Dooriyan in 2010. It included a couple of songs — "Kaga Ja" and "Naal Naal" — which he had written during his time with Fuzon.^[16]

His vocals in the song "Dildaara" from the movie Ra.One fetched him a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 2012.Recently he sang "Tu Hi Mera" for the 2012 movie Jannat starring Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta.^[17]

Discography[link]

Movies[link]

Collaborations[link]

Albums[link]

Coke Studio(Pakistan)[link]

Season 2[link]