Raja Todarmal’s Moti Mahal crumbling
ALLAHABAD: Government officials are working day and night to complete development works before Kumbh-2019 but no steps have yet been taken for maintenance of historical places and buildings, which are on the verge of turning into ruins.
Among hundreds of old and historical buildings of the city is Mughal emperor Akbar’s minister Raja Todarmal’s fort or Moti Mahal on Ganga Ghat in Daraganj locality of the city. The building endured massive artillery firing by British Forces during the rebellion of 1857, which destroyed the building to a large extent including its five among six large entrance gates.
The British army under Colonel Neil killed the sepoys in the fort and looted the armoury in June 1857, says Todarmal’s 17th descendant Arun Kumar Agarwal who lives in a portion of the building.
According to Arun Kumar Agarwal, Raja Todarmal got the mahal constructed when he was living in Allahabad for construction of the fort at Sangam on the orders of emperor Akbar. The construction of Moti Mahal started in 1585 and was completed in 1590. The mahal spread in a large area of 40,000 square feet comprises a darbar hall decorated with beautiful designs on its walls, diwan-e-khas, diwan-eaam, a stable, an armory, Todarmal’s office and barracks. The once abuzz building is now turning into a ruin.
The three portions of the building, which are below the ground level, were used by Raja Todarmal, his subordinates and soldiers, are locked now. This portion may contain many articles and documents of that period but it could not be opened due to lack of resources. Requests have been made to the administration and other concerned departments for assistance but to no avail, Agarwal complained.
“We got possession of the fort after much tug-o-war with British and other royal estates. We want the building to be renovated by the government but we do not want to transfer it as it is a heritage of our ancestors” Agarwal shared. Arun Kumar Agarwal’s son Sudhanshu said in 1745 Nawab of Oudh Shujauddaula snatched the mahal from their ancestors but Lord Clive reclaimed it and returned it to them. However, in 1857, Colonel Neil destroyed much of the building with canons.