|
The structure was built by a warmhearted son, Nawab Mohammad Ishak Khan,
in honour of a celebrated, prodigious Persian and Urdu poet, and most
importantly a father, Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta. Nawab M. Ishak Khan
designed the building himself, and the imposing project, upon 30 acres
of land, was abated and consummated with the help of assistants who
possessed considerable experience in building barracks for the British
Army. The Nawab amalgamated many styles of architecture in building
Mustafa Castle. It offers facilities akin to British bungalows and
shares prominent features with the buildings of the realm of Rajasthan
and Oudh—mainly Lucknow.
However, the amalgam meant that the edifice of Mustafa Castle was to be
peerless amongst others seen in the cities of
Delhi, Hyderabad, and Lahore. A hoard of antique artifacts, that belong
within the boundaries of Mustafa Castle, can be attributed to Nawab M.
Ishak Khan's epic tours around the world and his penchant for collecting
artifacts. Historical accounts make mention of clay from Mecca being
used in the construction procedure and the replacement of an inward
gallows with an Islamic mosque.
Muse
Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta was a close friend, admirer and, in times of
need, a patron of Mirza Ghalib – who was a classical Urdu and Persian
poet from India during British colonial rule. A man of letters, he found
himself in trouble after the British succeeded in regaining control of
Delhi in 1857. Nawab Mustafa Khan's mother was the daughter of the
Commander in Chief of the Mughal army, Ismail Baig Hamadani. Even after
the surrender of the Mughal army, Ismail Baig continued his fight for
liberalisation against the British and, as a result, retreated to Nepal.
Nawab Mustafa Khan was tried for allegedly supporting the uprising which
had emanated from Meerut. He was sentenced to seven years of
imprisonment and confined in a cell which had been improvised – and
later abandoned – for the convicts of the 1857 uprising.
This small jail happened to be the centre of the area which is now
enclosed by Mustafa Castle. Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta died in 1869 when
Nawab M. Ishak Khan was 9 years of age. Following the aftermath of a
vehement emotional surge, the spot of the poet's imprisonment was
purchased by Nawab M. Ishak Khan along with the adjoining area, which
comprised nearly 30 acres of land. He then had Mustafa Castle built as
his homage to the memory and honour of his father. The cell, in which
the poet was imprisoned, has been retained in its unadulterated form so
as to conjure a picture of the hardship incurred by Nawab Mustafa Khan
Shefta during his imprisonment. That particular chamber, therefore, had
been left unaltered by Nawab M. Ishak Khan. The noble family, that had
been previously based in Delhi and
Jehangirabad, had established Mustafa Castle as its prime premises after
the building's completion in the year 1900, for, mostly, sentimental
attributes – a similar building akin to Mustafa Castle, originally
belonging to the noble family, exists in the erstwhile family capital of
Jehangirabad.
Post-War Political Headquarters
Nawab Mohammad Ishak Khan died on October 28, 1918, leaving his eldest
son, Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan, at the helm. It was during Nawab M.
Ismail Khan's career in the national struggle [1918–1958] that Mustafa
Castle was markedly transformed into a hub of political activity.
Mustafa Castle bore some of the greatest events in Meerut which were
significant post-WWI/post-WWII political activities with regard to the
prospective nations in question at the time—which were to be India and
Pakistan. Nawab M. Ismail Khan was a highly accomplished politician and
an independent activist of the Indian Subcontinent who presided as
Chairman over the All-India Muslim League in the state of Uttar Pradesh
[United Provinces]. In general, it was Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan who
transformed his home, Mustafa Castle, into a haven for political
proceedings during his reign. Apart from being Chairman of the League,
this 'transformation' ensued due to the numerous other roles that he
upheld in politics.
The stratum of obligations involved rendering his services as the
Chairman of the All-India Muslim Civil Defense Association, Chairman of
the All-India Muslim League Committee of Action, Chairman of the
Parliamentary Board, President of the All-India Khilafat Committee,
President of the All-Parties Muslim Conference, President of the Unity
Board, and other political and academic affiliations. Dearth of the need
for fame due to his meekness and humbleness, Nawab M. Ismail Khan could
not reconcile with himself to drive his people to the fringes of
dignity. Outcomes always had to be and, verily, were in the people's
favour. Albeit Nawab M. Ismail Khan is one of the founding fathers of
Pakistan, he never migrated towards the 'promising land' due to his
steadfast commitment towards the thousands of Muslims left behind in
India itself. He, in all consciousness, decided to share the same fate
despite being persistently enticed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Nawabzada
Liaquat Ali Khan.
The Inner Portion of the Castle
Several chambers within the Castle are named after colours such as 'Basanti',
'Gulabi' and so forth. They are used distinctly in summer or winter
months with the relevant color schemes. Some of the originality that
remains in the Castle includes furniture that had been imported by Nawab
Mohammad Ishak Khan from London, to various showpieces that the Castle
displays with pride. Pendulum clocks, ornately designed lamps, antique
chandeliers, carved wooden cabinets, chests, dressing tables, cupboards
and drawers, antique lampshades, candle-stands, mirrors and historic
portraits are amongst some of the rare artifacts that have been
preserved throughout Mustafa Castle's century-old lifetime.
Getting There
Indira Gandhi International
Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP) also known as Delhi Airport which is
located 109 km away, is the nearest airport serving the city of Meerut in
Punjab. On your arrival at the Delhi Airport, you can hire a cab. It would
take you about an hour and a half to reach Meerut if you take the National
Highways 24 followed by NH 58.
Meerut City, or Meerut City Junction, is the main railway station in
the city of Meerut. It is a junction one lines goes from here to Khurja
Junction and connect to Kolkata-Delhi Line, the line is double and
electrified from Delhi to Meerut City, serving the city and the Meerut
District.
|
