Swapna Liddle introduces the tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, 11 July. 2012.

Swapna Liddle introduces the tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, 11 July. 2012.

On 11 July 2012, Swapna Liddle, co-convener at INTACH and an eminent historian who has been conducting walks around the historic precincts of Delhi for more than a decade, visited our School to share her expertise on the Hauz Khas Complex. This complex houses Firoz Shah Tughluqs Tomb, a monument that has been adopted by our school under the INTACH programme. Ms. Liddles presentation gave the students an introduction aware about the historical background of Hauz Khas , its ruins, architectural style, techniques , religious ethos and so on. The students were amused that organic material like pulses, pulp of the bael fruit, greens, cow dung , jiggery etc were traditionally added to make the plaster and mortar robust to last centuries! Some interesting anecdotes and legends kept the narrative crisp and breezy especially one about how the heads of 8000 Mongols were buried in the foundations of Siri! The presentation concluded with a question-answer session on the various facets of the Hauz Khas complex, like What was curriculum of Madrasas?; Were hindu subjects allowed to study in Madrasas?; How did Kangura or the battlement pattern of the fortification develop in India?; Why was there a Jharoka in the qibla wall instead of Mihirabs ?; What are all the things we as students can do to protect and preserve Firoz Shah Tughluqs Tomb? The talk ended with a hearty vote of thanks for the enriching experience. As filed by Ms. Charu Bhatnagar. Social sciences department.