Syed Jalal Shah Dargah on the entrance of Shivdi Fort being illegally expanded

• Green flags outside the entrance of the fort!

• Archeology department as usual blissfully unaware of the developments!

Mumbai : The Shivdi fort in Mumbai, has been around since the 1500s (prior to the arrival of the British to India). Dargah Sharif Hazrat Syed Jalal Shah, this Dargah and its associated structures have been built on about 1 acre of land at the entrance of this fort. Recently, construction has taken place here over the years; but this is being ignored by the archeology department.

Shivdi fort comes under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Department of the Government of Maharashtra. It is mentioned in the history of the fort that it was under the control of Bahadur Shah in 1500 AD. It is said that Bahadur Shah built this Dargah at the entrance of the fort during this period. However, according to the learned elders here, the place of this dargah is actually the place of one of the Navanathas. That is why some Hindu devotees also come here. The area of this dargah has been illegally increased in the last few years. The size of the Dargah has been increased and Muslim familied have been settled there for its maintenance. Goats are also reared for the subsistence of this family.

Instead of the fort, the Dargah is being glorified !

Outside the fort, a small 1 sq foot plaque has been erected indicating that the fort belongs to the State Archaeological Department. Many green flags have been hoisted outside the entrance of the fort. So instead of a fort, it appears as though it is an Islamic Pilgrim Center.

Large arch bearing the name of the Dargah erected !

The Archaeological Department has not erected any sign outside the fort stating that Shivdi fort is located here. On the other hand, a separate paved road has been constructed to reach the Dargah at some distance from the road leading to the fort and a large arch bearing the name of the Dargah has been constructed at its entrance. It appears as though there is a concentrated effort to set up a separate center to rival the fort. All the construction has come up illegally within the premises of the fort, yet the Archaeology Department seems to disregarding it !

Source : Sanatan Prabhat