Red Fort

The Red Fort or Lal Qila is a historic fort in the Old Delhi neighbourhood of Delhi, India, that historically served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal. The fort represents the peak in the Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and combines Persian palace architecture with Indian traditions.

The fort was plundered of its artwork and jewels during Nader Shah’s invasion of the Mughal Empire in 1739. Most of the fort’s marble structures were subsequently demolished by the British following the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The fort’s defensive walls were largely undamaged, and the fortress was subsequently used as a garrison.

On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate. Every year on India’s Independence Day (15 August), the prime minister hoists the Indian tricolour flag at the fort’s main gate and delivers a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts through the Public Address System of Indian Army Corps of Signals.

The Red Fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 as part of the Red Fort Complex.

History

Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, Shah Jahan’s favourite colours,  its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal.   The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats surrounding most of the walls. Construction began in the sacred Islamic month of Muharram, on 13 May 1638.  Supervised by Shah Jahan, it was completed on 6 April 1648.  Unlike other Mughal forts, the Red Fort’s boundary walls are asymmetrical to contain the older Salimgarh Fort.  The fortress-palace was a focal point of the city of Shahjahanabad, which is present-day Old Delhi. Shah Jahan’s successor, Aurangzeb, added the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) to the emperor’s private quarters, constructing barbicans in front of the two main gates to make the entrance to the palace more circuitous.

The administrative and fiscal structure of the Mughal dynasty declined after Aurangzeb, and the 18th century saw a degeneration of the palace. In 1712 Jahandar Shah became the Mughal Emperor. Within a year of beginning his rule, Shah was murdered and replaced by Farrukhsiyar. In 1739, Persian emperor Nadir Shah easily defeated the strong Mughal army of around 200,000 soldiers, plundering the Red Fort, including the Peacock Throne. Nadir Shah returned to Persia after three months, leaving a destroyed city and a weakened Mughal empire to Muhammad Shah. The internal weakness of the Mughal Empire made the Mughals only titular rulers of Delhi, and a 1752 treaty made the Marathas protectors of the throne at Delhi. The 1758 Maratha victory at Sirhind aided by the Sikhs and successive defeat at Panipat  placed them in further conflict with Ahmad Shah Durrani. 

The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a historic fort in the city of Delhi, India. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century and served as the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty for nearly 200 years, until 1857. The fort is renowned for its imposing red sandstone walls, which give it its name.

The walls of the Red Fort are an architectural marvel, built to be both defensive and aesthetically pleasing. They stand at a height of around 18 meters (59 feet) and are enclosed by a moat. The fort’s walls stretch for over 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) and are punctuated by several grand entrances, including the Lahori Gate and the Delhi Gate.

The walls are adorned with intricate designs and embellishments, including floral motifs, calligraphy, and geometric patterns, which are characteristic of Mughal architecture. The fort’s impressive structure and rich history make it one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Security

To prevent terrorist attacks, security is especially strict around the Red Fort on the eve of Indian Independence Day. Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel keep a watch on neighbourhoods around the fort, and National Security Guard sharpshooters are deployed on high-rises near the fort. The airspace around the fort is a designated no-fly zone during the celebration to prevent air attacks, and safe houses exist in nearby areas to which the prime minister and other Indian leaders may retreat in the event of an attack.

Adoption controversy

In April 2018, Dalmia Bharat Group adopted the Red Fort for maintenance, development, and operations, per a contract worth ₹25 crores for a period of five years, under the government’s “Adopt A Heritage” scheme. The memorandum of understanding was signed with the ministries of Tourism and Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.). The adoption of the fort by a private group left people divided and drew criticism from the public, opposition political parties, and historians. It also led to the #IndiaOnSale hashtag on Twitter.  In May 2018, the Indian History Congress called for the deal to be suspended until there is an “impartial review” of the deal “by the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology or any other recognised body of experts”.