Delhi’s oldest police publish restored, however uncared for

Believed to have been constructed within the early 1800s, Barh ki Chowki served as a police publish from 1923 to 1963 for the Sabzi Mandi police station, and finally fell into disrepair. Uncared for and forgotten, it was “rediscovered” by a police officer who was researching a espresso desk e-book for the drive, and INTACH and Nationwide Tradition Fund took up its restoration in March 2022.

HT has learnt that the publish was to be inaugurated on the Delhi Police Elevating Day, which is noticed yearly on February 16 — first in 2024, after which in 2025. Nonetheless, the inauguration was postponed on each events.

A police officer conscious of the delay mentioned, “It was scheduled however due to unexpected circumstances, the inauguration was postponed.”

Nonetheless, deputy commissioner of police (north) Raja Banthia mentioned, “The house is being utilized by Anti- Auto Theft Squad and Anti Narcotics Squad.”

Subhead: Challenges forward

In the course of the restoration course of, aside from the single-storey linear masonry constructing, INTACH additionally restored a Nineteenth century effectively within the premises, and a backyard was ready round the primary constructing. Nonetheless, when HT visited the publish final week, two small gardens within the courtyard desperately wanted water as crops had been drying, even because the effectively to the best — which was restored two years in the past — was now stuffed with the dried leaves and rubbish.

INTACH’s conservation architect Hrutika Satdive, who labored on the restoration, mentioned that the constructing is solely the accountability of Delhi Police. “Restoration was one facet of the mission and upkeep is one other. The unique plan as instructed to us was that it’ll be utilized by the Sarai Rohilla police station, but when it’s not getting used, then it’s at a threat of degradation. The longevity of such constructions relies on their utilization. If they’re used recurrently, then they’re additionally maintained,” she mentioned.

A sub-inspector who has been to Barh ki Chowki mentioned that whereas it’s a lovely construction, it might be powerful to maintain as an workplace.

“Ceiling followers can’t be put in right here as a result of there isn’t a such provision within the restored construction. We have now an electrical energy connection however solely desk followers could be put in right here. Winters should still be manageable, however I’m not positive about summers,” he mentioned.

Subhead: Restoring a Nineteenth century website

Historian Swapna Liddle, who edited an English translation of Sair-Ul-Manazil, mentioned the e-book mentions the publish by the title of “Dangerous ki Chowki”.

“Sair-Ul-Manazil mentions the presence of a police chowki often known as Dangerous Ki Chowki in an space the place there’s a kala pahad (hill) and a temple of Sheetla. Close to this chowki, there’s a sarai (inn) of Rohilla Khan,” she mentioned.

Assistant sub-inspector Rajender Kalkal “rediscovered” the construction in 2006, whereas researching for Historical past and Heritage, a espresso desk e-book that had been commissioned by the then Delhi Police commissioner Dr KK Paul.

“Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu, an organisation that works on artwork and tradition, instructed me about an early Nineteenth century e-book Sair-Ul-Manazil by Mirza Sangin Beg which had listed out previous institutions in Delhi. The e-book talked about that there was a ‘Badi Chowki’ in Sarai of Rahullah Khan. After I reached the situation, I discovered an previous construction. We later came upon that it was a police publish for Subzi Mandi police station from 1923 to 1963,” Kalkal mentioned, including that the title was probably derived from the presence of banyan timber surrounding the publish.

Sair-ul Manazil (a journey from one vacation spot to a different) was reportedly commissioned by the British East India Firm, which requested Beg to jot down about Nineteenth-century Delhi.

In accordance with the espresso desk e-book, Sadar Bazar in north Delhi is the oldest police station in Delhi in-built 1861. Apart from Sadar Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Mehrauli, Kotwali and Mundka are among the many oldest police stations in Delhi, the espresso desk e-book revealed by the Delhi Police says.

In accordance with officers, when Barh ki Chowki was “rediscovered”, it was in a dilapidated state, hidden behind a short lived construction from the place Anti Auto Theft Squad’s workplace was working from. The roof had collapsed and heavy vegetation had come up across the partitions.

Throughout restoration, INTACH officers repaired the broken roof, eliminated the timber that had been intertwined with the constructing, crammed the gaps and cracks that had developed over time, inserted doorways and home windows, and eliminated the porta cabins that blocked the view of the chowki whereas illuminating it.

Two years later, the publish lies in want of care — once more.