Forts are repositories of history. They stand witness to great events of valour and sacrifice, treachery and cowardice. Built in hilly areas or on hilltops, in arid deserts or in waters along the coast, they have a charm and beauty of their own. Almost each one witnessed great battles and abundance of bloodshed. Some have stories of love and intrigue hidden in their stonewalls. The forts have held out a great attraction for everyone – the local who stands in awe of the past glory reflecting the pride that belonged to their forefathers and the person from far away, who comes to see, understand, admire and then become a part of that history at heart.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the ‘Fort’ as “a building or buildings specially made or strengthened for the military defence of an area.” In many cases, it also served as a palace or official place of residence of the ruler but all palaces were not located in forts. The same dictionary defines a ‘castle’ as “a large building or group of buildings with thick walls, towers, battlements, and sometimes a moat for defence.”
Forts have played an important part in the development of localities, be it the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk around which Mughal Delhi flourished or Fort William around which British Kolkata grew up. There are numerous towns ranging from Jhansi to Chandragiri which grew around forts. Some towns even acquired the names from the forts. Durg is fort in Hindi. Satara was so named because of the seventeen walls of the fort. Then there are famous monuments in certain cities and towns that overshadow the importance of the forts. Agra Fort pales into comparative insignificance against the glory of the Taj Mahal. Khajuraho temples overshadow Rajgarh Fort. In many places, only a few pieces of brick-and-mortar remain to remind us that a fort once stood there. Forts have been fascinating objects of study.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the ‘Fort’ as “a building or buildings specially made or strengthened for the military defence of an area.” In many cases, it also served as a palace or official place of residence of the ruler but all palaces were not located in forts. The same dictionary defines a ‘castle’ as “a large building or group of buildings with thick walls, towers, battlements, and sometimes a moat for defence.”
Forts have played an important part in the development of localities, be it the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk around which Mughal Delhi flourished or Fort William around which British Kolkata grew up. There are numerous towns ranging from Jhansi to Chandragiri which grew around forts. Some towns even acquired the names from the forts. Durg is fort in Hindi. Satara was so named because of the seventeen walls of the fort. Then there are famous monuments in certain cities and towns that overshadow the importance of the forts. Agra Fort pales into comparative insignificance against the glory of the Taj Mahal. Khajuraho temples overshadow Rajgarh Fort. In many places, only a few pieces of brick-and-mortar remain to remind us that a fort once stood there. Forts have been fascinating objects of study.
No comments:
Post a Comment