A Neglected 400 year old Mughal Era Bridge near KOT Pindi Das

 November 16, 2015

 

The Ravi River, originating from Indian-Occupied Kashmir, is joined by five major tributaries: Ujh, Bein, Basantar, Deg, and Hudiara. Interestingly, all except Hudiara, which is referred to as Hudiara Drain, are now called nullahs. The largest among them is Deg Nullah, stretching 256 km in length and covering a catchment area of 730 km².

Throughout history, Deg Nullah has maintained its significance to this day. In the 1620s, during the reign of Sheikhu, it posed a formidable obstacle for his royal entourage, with its banks swelling due to the ferocity of monsoons. More recently, Deg Nullah witnessed the largest tank battles since the Second World War during the 1965 conflict. Even today, it retains military importance as it divides the Shakargarh salient, which protrudes into Indian-Occupied Kashmir and holds significant strategic implications.

Every corner of our country holds within it thousands of years of history, and the seemingly insignificant Deg Nullah is one such uncelebrated and silent geographical entity. Renowned travel writer Sir Salman Rasheed visited this place a few years ago and shared its historical narrative:

"In the late monsoon of 1620, Emperor Jehangir and his court were encamped at Jehangirabad. October had arrived, yet the monsoon showed no signs of subsiding. As the court prepared to return to Lahore, the rains persisted, pouring down with great intensity.

The Degh River, originating from the hills near Jammu, flows past Sialkot and joins the Ravi south of Lahore, standing between Jehangir's hunting lodge and the city. As the royal caravan approached its banks, they discovered a raging, muddy torrent, impossible to cross even on elephants. For four days, the royal court was stranded until the saturated tents became unbearable for the king and his family.

To prevent future hold-ups on the Degh, Jehangir ordered the construction of a bridge across the otherwise fordable river. To this day, the bridge stands, connecting the village of Kot Pindi Das to the Lahore-Sheikhupura high road.

The bridge consists of two separate structures, around thirty meters apart. The southern structure features two arches, while the main structure is asymmetrical, with a central arch flanked by two smaller arches on one side and one on the other. Unfortunately, the once pristine Degh River, now polluted with untreated waste from the factories of Kala Shah Kaku, flows beneath the bridge, emitting a foul odor.

Thirty years after its construction, in October 1652, Shah Jehan faced a similar situation to his father. The rains persisted, causing the Degh to flood. This time, the floodwaters rose so high that even the bridge was submerged. Once again, the royal camp was forced to halt for four days, as some members of the forward party were swept away by the torrent."

Having planned to visit this site long ago, I was fortunate enough to finally make the journey last Sunday. Located near the village of Kot Pindi Das, roughly 10 km from the University of Engineering Technology Lahore Kala Shah Kaku campus, reaching the site involved traversing dirt roads that wind through the village. The condition of the bridge is currently deteriorating, with significant cracks appearing under the arches, indicating a potential collapse of the entire structure in the near future. Despite its precarious state, the bridge remains operational, with heavy sand-loaded trolleys still crossing it.

This 400-year-old bridge, constructed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, holds immense historical importance. Regrettably, neither the government nor the archaeological department has made any effort to rehabilitate or preserve this site. In a matter of years, this significant piece of history will be lost forever, slipping into oblivion.

To forestall a future repeat of the hold up on the Degh, Jehangir ordered the throwing of a bridge across the river that is normally fordable. To this day the bridge spans the river and serves as a connection between the village of Kot Pindi Das and the Lahore-Sheikhupura highroad.