Mutiny Memorial and Ashokan Pillar

Delhi—the city of Djinns, teeming with a rich historical legacy is peppered with majestic monuments that have long stood the test of time. Situated in front of the Old Telegraph Building, the Mutiny Memorial is reminiscent of India’s Sepoy Mutiny (First War of Independence) in 1857 against the British rule. The monument was constructed in 1863 by the Public Works Department at government expenses, during British-ruled India. It was erected by the British to commemorate the lives lost during the First War of Indian Independence. On the 25th anniversary of India’s independence in 1972, the monument was hailed as a tribute to all the martyrs of India’s freedom struggle and was rechristened as Ajitgarh by the then government. During the First War of Independence, a large number of soldiers belonging to the Delhi Field Force sacrificed their lives to win back freedom for their country. Apart from soldiers, people from all other walks of life fought fearlessly. The names of thousands such martyrs whose existence is symbolic of their invincible spirit are etched in the walls of the Mutiny Memorial. The use of Victorian Gothic architecture spells magnificence. The tower is of octagonal shape on the exterior and circular in shape from the interior. The plaques on the surrounding walls and the red sandstone base are engraved with the names of soldiers and their ranks. Within 200 metres from the Mutiny Memorial lies the Ashokan Pillar.

Just like any other Ashokan edict, even this pillar was sandstone rocks. Standing tall opposite the entrance of the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, close to the Delhi University Campus, the pillar is often termed as the Delhi-Meerut Pillar. It was built by emperor Ashoka but transported to Delhi by Feroze Shah. The second such Ashokan Pillar is at the Feroze Shah Kotla grounds. The pillar has many inscriptions on it, since these have not been deciphered, one can aver that these contain Ashoka’s message of Buddhism and dhamma.

You can reach the mutiny memorial either from the side of Bara Hindu Rao or Kamla Nagar, the Ridge road from Raj Pur Road or the Barafkhana road.