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| Restored Flagg-staff Tower, N.Ridge, Delhi.upload.wikimedia.org |
Flagstaff Tower, Old Delhi (in Kamala Park), built by the English army around 1828, is a simple structure with a single circular chamber that can accommodate about 100 people at a time and a tower specifically built in the style of battlement and castle. It is on the highest point, about one and half mile north of the city, almost on the outskirt (now it is close to North campus of Delhi university) Made of red sandstone, available in plenty near-by, the British had it built with a small stairway to access the signal look-out on the tower overlooking the surrounding area to watch the movements of enemies, etc. For a long time the area remained uncared for and as a result it was surrounded by vegetation, wild grass and shrubs. In the later years it became a protected monument under the care of the ASI - Archaeological Survey of India.
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| Flag-staff Tower, N.Ridge images.saymedia-content.com |
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| Flag-staff Tower, N. Ridge, Delhi .thehindu.com |
Above image: Flag-staff Tower monument built in the style of mini castle of Nehru park, Delhi, is an important part of British India history that brings back the dark days of vicious and malicious early rule of the British company and their atrocities in India. Equally the monument takes the descendants of the British back to a testing period affected by the siege of Delhi and the raging rebels and their poignant stories of survival. Colonial structures in Delhi related to 1857 rebellion are well preserved and maintained by the ASI ...........
This castellated structure on a high ridge was the safest for the soldiers and others when there were revolts and wild protests. During the siege of Delhi in May 1957, the structure with its strategic location saved the lives of many British when the Indian rebels most of them were residents of the Walled City and Old Subzi Mandi made a serious and concerted attack on the spot where now the Flagstaff Tower stands. Finally after a fierce battle in which many soldiers and rebels died, the ridge was recaptured by EIC on 7 June, 1957. Many of the British fugitives were fleeing in retreat trying to reach the road to Karnal, But some British families had stayed here safely until the help arrived from nearby Meerut cantonment. In the fall season, the rebellion became fully subdued and normalcy was restored in Delhi by the EIC. There were a few incidents in which the British were saved by brave Indians. One pregnant woman (as per record) was saved by a brave Indian and she had delivered a baby during the monsoon season.
Now, it is a well preserved monument along with the cemetery, where the few British who fell during the uprising are buried. One of them was Brigadier John Nicholson, who killed so many rebels. When the restoration was on help came from Britain's High Commissioner, Mr. Michael Arthur, who wanted to preserve the history of Delhi during the 1857 rebellion.
http://sunanda-offthebeatenpath.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
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