Jahaz Haveli

Haveli in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab

Jahaz Haveli

Jahaz Haveli

Former names| Jahaz Mahal
Alternative names| Haveli Todar Mal
General information
Type| Haveli
Location| Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
Address| Harnam Nagar
Completed| 17th century
Owner| SGPC

The Haveli Todar Mal popularly known as Jahaz Haveli or Jahaz Mahal is the 17th century residence (haveli) of Todar Mal, who became the diwan in the court of Nawab Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind, under Mughal Empire. Today, it is remembered for the cremation of young martyred sons of Guru Gobind Singh and his mother.

The haveli is situated in Harnam Nagar, on the Eastern side of Sirhind-Rupnagar Railway Line just 1 km away from Fatehgarh Sahib, and is now being taken over and restored by SGPC with the help of Punjab govt and INTACH.[1][2][3][4]

## Architecture

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Jahaz Haveli being restored

The lavish haveli constructed with Sirhindi bricks stand just outside the Mughal Governor Nawab Wazir Khan's palace, once boasts of a grand reception area to receive and entertain guests and a well laid-out ground complete with a pool and fountains.[5]

## Diwan Todar Mal

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Diwan Todar Mall Hall in Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib

Diwan Todar Mal was an Oswal Śvetāmbara Jain and 'Dewan' in the court of Mughal Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan.[6][7][8]

In Sikh history, he is remembered for buying a small piece of land at a very huge price saying the world's costliest land ever bought for the cremation of the dead bodies of Mata Gujri, the mother and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the two younger sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 1704 A.D, by paying an exorbitant price to the Wazir Khan 'Governor Of Sirhind'. He had to cover the whole piece of land with gold coins (ashrafis) in a vertical position, as he was asked to vertically place gold coins on the land and only that much land was given to him which he could cover with gold coins. He later also made arrangements for their cremation.[9] But, according to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, the bodies of all the three were cremated by the descendants of Todar Mall Shahjahani because the latter had already died in 1665–66.[10]

Todar Mal, however had to bear the brunt of Wazir Khan's wrath, and he and his family had to abandon the haveli soon after, and themselves faded into oblivion, with dilapidated building being their only reminder. In the coming years, the haveli fell into rapid disrepair, and collapsed at many place. Though it survived ransacking of Sirhind by Banda Bahadur and during the reign of The Sikh Confederacy, the haveli was left untouched out of respect for Diwan Todar Mal.[5][11]

Today, Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup, now stands at the place where these three martyrs were cremated and the road connecting the two Gurdwaras is known as Dewan Todar Mal Marg. Even today Diwan Todar Mal is deeply respected by the Sikhs and a Diwan Todar Mal Memorial Hall, congregation hall has been constructed at historic Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib by SGPC.[12][13]

## See also

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* Aam Khas Bagh
* Saka Sirhind
* Ahmad Sirhindi
* History of Sirhind

## Gallery

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* Brief description of history of Haveli Todar Mal, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India

* Haveli Todar Mal,Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India

* Ruins of Haveli Todar Mal, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India

* Well at Haveli Todar Mal, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India

## References

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### Citations

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1. ^ "Aggarwal Sabha hails SGPC move". The Tribune. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
2. ^ "Shrines: Haveli Todar Mal". Fatehgarh Sahib district website. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010.
3. ^ "Jahaz Haveli to get a facelift by Gurdeep Singh Mann". The Tribune. 4 January 2010.
4. ^ "SGPC keen on Sikh heritage conservation". The Indian Express. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
5. ^ a b "The forgotten Diwan of Sirhind". The Tribune. 2 January 2004.
6. ^ Macaulife, Max Arthur (2004) [First published 1900]. The Sikh religion : Vol 5 (Revised ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University.
7. ^ "AN ANCIENT BROTHERHOOD". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
8. ^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research, Vol-19, Issue no.-January-December.
9. ^ Dahiya 2014, p. 185.
10. ^ Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, SIKH HISTORY IN 10 VOLUMES, vol 1, p. 375.
11. ^ Fatehgarh Sahib /Sirhind Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Govt of Punjab, Revenue Dept.
12. ^ "Dewan Todar Mal- A true devotee of the Guru". Fatehgarh Sahib website. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
13. ^ Khushwant Singh (7 November 2009). "An Ancient Brotherhood". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010.

### Sources

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* Dahiya, Amardeep S. (2014), Founder of the Khalsa: The Life and Times of Guru Gobind Singh, ISBN 978-93-81398-53-1

## External links

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* Todarmal Jahaj Haveli, slide show IGNCA