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Stripped of its former glory, Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli rusts into oblivion. Many people claim their unauthorized shares in the compound of its ruins. The question at hand is, how did the once posh area of Shahjahanabad turn into a sorry legend of negligence? Let us walk through the life of Zeenat Mahal to the contemporary world where she and her residence stand forgotten.
Story of Negligence
Not much is known about Zeenat Mahal's life before she tied the knot with Bahadur Shah Zafar II. She climbed on the social ladder real fast despite her humble background. The doe-eyed beauty won the heart of the emperor with her keen interest in the court intrigues. The emperor never failed to fulfil her every wish and doted on her above all.
Therefore, it is no surprise that she had an entire Haveli at her disposal, known as the Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli. Constructed in 1846, the mansion was adorned with artistic wall murals and exquisite decoration pieces. The empress had every luxury that her time had to offer. Her arrival was marked by the loud proclamations of drum beats before she even set foot on the ground from her palanquin. This prompted people to name her the Danka Begum.
History reminds us of the time when Bahadur Shah Zafar II stayed in this Haveli briefly after surrendering himself at the mercy of the British flag. The Sepoy who switched sides with the British then attacked the Haveli but failed to enter the sturdy mansion.
Such was the glory of the olden days. The tragic exile of Bahadur Shah and Zeenat Mahal's decision to accompany him was the beginning of the agonising process of losing Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli.
According to the local legends, the Haveli served as the living quarters of the mistress of the King of Patiala. So far, so good. The next big push came during the partition. The King sold the Haveli and left for Pakistan.
And that's how the Haveli spiralled down the pit of ruins as we find it today. An imposing gateway with a plaque survives to identify the building. One is left to imagine the brilliance of this architectural marvel while noticing the remains of the grand Mughal arched pavilions.
In fact, the mansion that once spread across a total area of four acres is hardly visible to a passerby anymore. Instead, one would find weak red-stone walls and cobwebs on the intact jaali work on the first floor.
The Haveli today stands unrecognisable with so many encroachers under its roof. An iron spiral staircase leads the visitors to the first storey, which now consists of numerous shops. The complex is crowded with an array of odd shops. Right at its heart is a factory for grinding red chilli powder. The fumes from the factory continue to cause asthmatic diseases in its inhabitants. In addition to this, the illegal settlement of dhobis is a hot-ongoing issue. Despite the allotment of separate housing, they continue to hog space in the Haveli.
Perhaps, the only positive outcome of this situation was the opening of a girls' school. It is a blessing for the residents. With no other educational institution in the near vicinity, the school is a ray of hope for all the children in the area.
With this ongoing trend, the future of Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli is bleak. There is a fair chance that the upcoming generations will never get to see the ruins of this historically significant Haveli. The memory of the brave queen who opened the doors of the Red Fort during the Sepoy Mutiny stands forgotten.
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