DELHI | Red Fort | Ceramic Mug
The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638 when he shifted the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. It was the palace-fortress at the heart of Shahjahanabad, home to the Diwan-i-Aam, the Diwan-i-Khas and the shimmering Rang Mahal. For two centuries it was the seat of Mughal power, until Nadir Shah's invasion of 1739 stripped it of treasures, including the famed Peacock Throne. The Marathas rose as protectors of the declining empire, taking control of the fort in 1788, until the British defeated them in 1803. In 1857 the fort became the rallying point of the First War of Independence after which the British took control of the Fort and demolished many structures to build their army barracks!
In 1945-46, officers of the Indian National Army, were tried here by the British, and the trials stirred the nation and gave new energy to the demand for independence.
On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the national flag at the Lahori Gate, and every Independence Day since, the Prime Minister has hoisted the tricolour from its ramparts.
Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Red Fort draws tourists from around the world, who walk through the same arched gateways, marble pavilions and gardens that witnessed empire, rebellion and freedom.
