This book presents the story of the imposing fort of red sandstone built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan (1628-58). Originally known by the name Qila-i-Mubarak - the Fortunate or Auspicious citadel - its construction began in April 1639 and was completed in 1648, though over the years its character has changed according to the uses to which it has been put. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1998, the Red Fort is a place of tremendous beauty, as well as one that is steeped in national history: the 'mutineers' defended it fiercely against the British during the 1857 uprising; the first of the historic 1945 trials of certain high-ranking Indian National Army (INA) soldiers was held there; and two years later, on 15 August 1947, when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled independent India's flag from its ramparts, the Red Fort became a lasting symbol of India's independence.The aim of the book is to focus on both the architectural and the historical features of this great monument.
It includes detailed information about the Fort's intricate architecture, its deterioration and subsequent restoration, and structures that were originally part of its but have since disappeared; as well as information about the political, social and economic conditions that prevailed during the reigns of the various rulers who have used it.