 "Journey to freedom")
Red Fort barracks
This splendid architectural landmark was once home to ugly barracks, which were erected here during the 1857 war of independence. It was here that the English used to imprison and hang the freedom fighters. Several senior officers of the Indian National Army, such as Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbakhsh Singh Dhillon and Prem Kumar Sehgal, were tried here in 1945. Barrack number B4 served as the trial room where eminent lawyers of the day like Jawaharlal Nehru, Bholabhai Desai and KN Katju defended the undertrials. Today, two of those barracks have been turned into memorials, after the Archaeological Survey of India took these over from the Indian army in 1993 for conservation purposes.
Chandni Chowk
The vintage bazaar of Chandni Chowk was witness to various key moments of the freedom movement. During the 1857 revolt, the area saw various skirmishes between the rebels and the British soldiers. Later, it was the venue of umpteen public meetings conducted by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Azad, Mahadev Desai, C Rajagopalachari and Hakim Ajmal Khan, among others. One of the most significant of these meetings was held in 1919 at Bhai Mati Das Chowk when 30,000 people protested against the Rowlatt Act. The crowd was also angry about the five people who had been killed earlier that day in police firing. The meeting had been called at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi and Hakim Ajmal Khan under the banner of the Delhi Satyagraha Committee. There was no more firing that day as police thought it better not to go against such a mammoth crowd.
Urdu Park
This historic landmark situated next to the Urdu Bazaar under the looming shadow of Jama Masjid, was the sight of an important public meeting conducted by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on August 1, 1942. Azad, along with local youth leader, Mir Mushtaq Ahmed, implored people to side with the Quit India Movement. Incidentally, this is also where Azad was laid to rest. At the behest of Jawaharlal Nehru, a mazaar was built here after Azad passed away on February 22, 1958.
Valmiki Sadan
Situated on Mandir Marg, the locality played host to Mahatma Gandhi between March 1946 and June 1947. It was Gandhi who renamed the area Harijan Colony. 85-year-old Data Ram cherishes fond memories of the discourses given by Gandhi to the residents of the colony. In fact, Ram was part of the group of children that was taught by him during his stay here. The government has been trying to build a memorial at the place where Gandhi stayed but the Valmiki Samaj is against such tokenism. "When Gandhiji was alive, he had declined an offer by Birla to renovate his room," says Ram.
The Central Hall of Parliament
It was here that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt shouted the slogan of Inquilab zindabad after throwing two bombs in response to Lala Lajpat Rai's death and to oppose the Trade Disputes and Public Safety bill. The bombs, however, were deliberately thrown away from the people present so that no one got hurt. The duo also scattered red-coloured leaflets that began with the quote, "It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear." It was also at this same majestic hall that Nehru made his "Tryst with destiny" speech.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park
Bhagat Singh's association with Delhi doesn't just end with the Central Hall of Parliament. The Hindustan Socialist Republican Army was founded in the heart of the city, at Feroz Shah Kotla. A few minutes walk from Kotla will lead you to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park which stands as a memorial to the brave revolutionary.
Sharif Manzil haveli
Located in Ballimaran, Sharif Manzil has changed tremendously since the days of the freedom movement. Today it is home to the capital's biggest optical accessories market. But in the olden days, this was the site for several critical meetings conducted by Mahatma Gandhi and Hakim Ajmal Khan, especially in the struggle following the Rowlatt Act. The haveli actually belonged to Khan, a famed apothecary of the Unani system of medicine and president of the Indian National Congress. One of the exponents of the Khilafat movement, he was given the title of Haziq-ul-Mulk for his philanthropy.
This splendid architectural landmark was once home to ugly barracks, which were erected here during the 1857 war of independence. It was here that the English used to imprison and hang the freedom fighters. Several senior officers of the Indian National Army, such as Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbakhsh Singh Dhillon and Prem Kumar Sehgal, were tried here in 1945. Barrack number B4 served as the trial room where eminent lawyers of the day like Jawaharlal Nehru, Bholabhai Desai and KN Katju defended the undertrials. Today, two of those barracks have been turned into memorials, after the Archaeological Survey of India took these over from the Indian army in 1993 for conservation purposes.
Chandni Chowk
The vintage bazaar of Chandni Chowk was witness to various key moments of the freedom movement. During the 1857 revolt, the area saw various skirmishes between the rebels and the British soldiers. Later, it was the venue of umpteen public meetings conducted by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Azad, Mahadev Desai, C Rajagopalachari and Hakim Ajmal Khan, among others. One of the most significant of these meetings was held in 1919 at Bhai Mati Das Chowk when 30,000 people protested against the Rowlatt Act. The crowd was also angry about the five people who had been killed earlier that day in police firing. The meeting had been called at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi and Hakim Ajmal Khan under the banner of the Delhi Satyagraha Committee. There was no more firing that day as police thought it better not to go against such a mammoth crowd.
Urdu Park
This historic landmark situated next to the Urdu Bazaar under the looming shadow of Jama Masjid, was the sight of an important public meeting conducted by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on August 1, 1942. Azad, along with local youth leader, Mir Mushtaq Ahmed, implored people to side with the Quit India Movement. Incidentally, this is also where Azad was laid to rest. At the behest of Jawaharlal Nehru, a mazaar was built here after Azad passed away on February 22, 1958.
Valmiki Sadan
Situated on Mandir Marg, the locality played host to Mahatma Gandhi between March 1946 and June 1947. It was Gandhi who renamed the area Harijan Colony. 85-year-old Data Ram cherishes fond memories of the discourses given by Gandhi to the residents of the colony. In fact, Ram was part of the group of children that was taught by him during his stay here. The government has been trying to build a memorial at the place where Gandhi stayed but the Valmiki Samaj is against such tokenism. "When Gandhiji was alive, he had declined an offer by Birla to renovate his room," says Ram.
The Central Hall of Parliament
It was here that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt shouted the slogan of Inquilab zindabad after throwing two bombs in response to Lala Lajpat Rai's death and to oppose the Trade Disputes and Public Safety bill. The bombs, however, were deliberately thrown away from the people present so that no one got hurt. The duo also scattered red-coloured leaflets that began with the quote, "It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear." It was also at this same majestic hall that Nehru made his "Tryst with destiny" speech.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park
Bhagat Singh's association with Delhi doesn't just end with the Central Hall of Parliament. The Hindustan Socialist Republican Army was founded in the heart of the city, at Feroz Shah Kotla. A few minutes walk from Kotla will lead you to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park which stands as a memorial to the brave revolutionary.
Sharif Manzil haveli
Located in Ballimaran, Sharif Manzil has changed tremendously since the days of the freedom movement. Today it is home to the capital's biggest optical accessories market. But in the olden days, this was the site for several critical meetings conducted by Mahatma Gandhi and Hakim Ajmal Khan, especially in the struggle following the Rowlatt Act. The haveli actually belonged to Khan, a famed apothecary of the Unani system of medicine and president of the Indian National Congress. One of the exponents of the Khilafat movement, he was given the title of Haziq-ul-Mulk for his philanthropy.
Firoz Bakht Ahmed is the grandnephew of Maulana Azad and a commentator on social, religious and political issues