The Glorious Aurangabad (Maharashtra)

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Aurangabad History has never received the attention it deserves from local history scholars, archeologists or for that matter even mainstream writers. It was for a long time overshadowed by the neighbouring caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Though foreign historians did find space in their books for covering small parts of the History of the city. The earliest historian was James Burgess who wrote a book titled. Antiquities of Bidar and Aurangabad' in 1875. The book included the antiquities of Aurangabad, limited to more popular monuments. During the Nizam Asif Jahi's period Bilgrami's book 'Historical and Descriptive sketches of Nizam's Dominion', embraced a larger number of monuments from Aurangabad with its history. It had very good sketches and photographs. It was written in 1883. The Government sponsored, 'Aurangabad District Gazetteer', published in 1885 was a comprehensive documentation on the political history, social, economic history as well as cultural history.

Jadunath Sarkar had written a 'Short History of Aurangzeb in 1918 and 'Anecdotes of Aurangzeb in 1949. Most of these books continued documenting the more conventional history that concentrated on political, economic, social and to some extent on cultural history. Historical monuments found minimum space in these writings. In 1953 the Government of Hyderabad had published a handbook titled Aurangabad that focused not only on the Caves of Aurangabad, Bibi-Ka-Maqbara and Panchakki, but also embodied a few mosques, a sarai and palaces of Aurangabad. Prof. Bari from Government College of Aurangabad, around 70's brought out a booklet titled. The Glorious Aurangabad." Unfortunately I missed the book, but those who read the book described it as similar to a tourist brochure.

Meanwhile there were several Urdu and Persian scholars and historians who wrote on the history of Aurangabad partially on specific periods of Malik Ambar, Aurangzeb or the Nizam Asif Jahi period. Important books like 'Malik Ambar' by Sheikh Chand, Maasir-e-Alamgiri by Saqi Mustaid Khan, Waquia-e-Alamgiri (news letters of Aurangzeb's period) and Shahnawaz Khan's 'Maasir-ul-Umara' (on many of the Mansabdars, Sardars of Aurangzeb's period). Khafi Khan, "Muntakhab-ul-Lubab" (Nizam's period). Tayabha Begum's book, 'Mir Osman Ali Khan, Times of India-VI Nizam Mehboob Khan's Visit to Aurangabad', etc.

However one of the earliest book on Aurangabad was recorded by Bhimsen Saxena, titled Tarikh-e-Dilkusha. Bhimsen Saxena was a contemporary of Aurangzeb's period and he and his uncle were in the employment of the Badshah. Another important book authored by Waheeda Naseem titled. "Malik Ambar Se Aurangzeb Tak" was publised in 1993. Hers was the first mainstream history that documented several historical structures from Malik Amber to Aurangzeb's period. This book was very valuable. But still a single book on the uninterrupted history of Aurangabad it's structures, cultural history from Ancient to Modern was much desired. A book titled. Tourism Potential in Aurangabad was published in 1999 but though it covered the historical and structural monuments of Aurangabad it focused more on the tourism infrastructure.

Credit in this direction goes to Rafat Qureshi for an indepth study on the ancient history of Aurangabad, to medieval to modern. His book titled 'Aurangabad Namah' published in 2016 proved a blockbuster and sold out within six months in India as well as many other Asian countries.

In the same year there was immense demand by the Group 'Heritage Lovers' for a Marathi and English version of 'Aurangabad Namah. They continuously suggested, and encouraged us to record the history we narrated during the walks. The final outcome of this perusal was the Marathi book also titled, 'Aurangabad Namah. It was a joint project by both of us.

Aurangabad a land of hidden wonders presents a saga of priceless heritage, spanning from ancient to medieval to modern. In the hoary past it was covered with dense forests and rocky lands and was home to wild animals, birds and beasts. Sounds of these animals howling, roaring and hooting was common. Amidst these natural sounds arose human sounds as the rocky lands reverberated to the sacred chants of the passing Buddhist monks. 'Buddham, Sharanam, Gachammi. It was that natural past when nature dominated and the soft fragrance of 'ambar' floated through the air, pure white water rivers flowed through the region offering excellent restorative qualities'.

Within this vicinity is suffused the aroma of historical delights, that gradually experienced the creations of homo sapiens and was steeped in a rich historical past that weaves, and interlaces, compares and creates stories, accounts and chronicles in stone, bricks, lime and colours, stirring and stimulating the most dispassionate viewers Edifices rose within the city and outside one after the other harmonizing the quaint and the classical with the majestic and imposing. It in brief is a mixed bag of rock cut temples, palaces, forts, fortification wall and gates, sarais, guest houses, mosques and mandirs, hamams, lakes temples, gardens and a unique water system.

The earliest historical records of this heritage city are securely safe guarded in Aurangabad Caves lying in the Sihyachal ranges within its rocky bosom. Its Buddhist emphasis signifies peace, love and sympathy for humanity at large. The ancient rock cut temples with its somber grey shades spread horizontally, intruded modestly by the tall shikhara of Kailasha at Ellora changes the mood from amazement to that of reverence of the divinities. The entire rock cut caves that included Pitalkhora, Ajanta, Ghatotkachha, Aurangabad and Ellora Caves span a time period from 3rd cent. B.C. to the 13th cent. A.D. while the geographical tracts stretching from Daultabad to Khuldabad and further to Grishneshwar, that break the skyline into gigantic, mighty forts, fortified walls, gates, minar, darghas and temples extend from the 12th cent. A.D. to 19th cent. A.D.

Aurangabad caves from its hilly ranges overlook the Bibi-ka-Maqbara, a facsimile of the time honoured Taj Mahal of Agra. The Maqbara build by a husband for his wife, teaches viewers lessons on strong bonding between a husband and wife. It was a strong desire of Dilras Banu Begum, wife of Aurangzeb to have her tomb on the model of Taj Mahal. She had expressed her desire to Aurangzeb when on a visit to the renowned Taj Mahal.

Another Mughal monument of the 18th cent. Panchakki, a Sufi Stronghold is a true mark of deep and intense devotion for God and is profoundly spiritual. A distinctive monument, Panchakki meaning Water Mill is more famous for its remarkable water system.

The city itself is replete with heritage sites. A leisurely ramble around the city and the exteriors of the city offers the visitor unique glimpses into the medieval phase of domes, spires, minarets, chhatris, pavilions and shikharas that overhang the city's skyline and are visible from lofty uplands through the now thin tree cover.

The old city of Aurangabad is lined with crowded, old fashioned, charming, single and double storeyed structures, at times interspersed with expansive mosques and towering city gates. In brief the city stands witness to several generations of societies with multicultural, multilingual and multifarious character.

Aurangabad in brief documents a cinematographic drama of gradual metamorphosis from an isolated to a populous town, from a rocky valley with thick forests and ancient monuments resounding with a sacred syllabus of Buddham Sharanam to the medieval period of profusion of rich buildings like maqbaras, havelis, deodis, palaces, wadas etc. till the 20 cent.

The city is immersed in the most spectacular heritage sites dotted in every lane and by lane, but the more celebrated World Heritage monuments of Ajanta and Ellora have eclipsed these lesser known memorials.

Travelers, historians and scholars of medieval period sojourn in the town has inspired rapturous, poetry and endearing and lively descriptions. It was said that a traveler travelling from Akbarabad to Junnar to meet Shahajahan named Mirza Sadiq Asfahani stopped at Khadki and was so impressed that he expressed his feelings "इस शहर के हवाओं में खुषर्बु है और यहाँ के पानी में आबे हयात हैं" "The gentle winds in the city are scented and it's water is sweet and pure".