Grand Barsi Gate of Hansi

Just like a river or a mountain, some monuments too become a permanent feature on the landscape of a city. They become such an integral part of daily life that without them it would be totally impossible to imagine the whole city. They become like a vital organ.

Barsi Gate, Hansi

(Picture was taken by me in Sept,2012)

One such remarkable monument is situated in Hansi. This monument has served as the main entrance of city for more than 850 years now and has allowed generations of Hansi-ans to pass through. Barsi Gate is one of the dearest landmark of my city and being an Hansi-an, I think that we should be extremely proud of having such a beautiful monument in our city.

When was it built?

Had it not been Col. James Skinner, we would perhaps not be able to conclusively attach a timeline to this gate. It was in 1815, when James stumbled upon an inscription, used as a construction block in one of the buildings of the fort of Hansi. He had it removed from there and kept it with himself. It was from there, that this Sanskrit inscription was translated by two remarkable scholars Captain Edward Fell and Captain James Tod.

Despite the differences in their translations, several important points were common and according to these, this inscription was erected in the glory of King Prithviraja, who had appointed one, Kilhana as his representative in the fort of Asi (Hansi) and Kilhana had built a big, strong gateway in the city. Inscription bore the year Vikram Samvat 1224 which would be equivalent to 1167 A.D. Gate described in this inscription could be Barsi Gate.

(For reading more about this difference in translations, consult "The Quarterly Oriental Magazine, Review and Register", Vol-4, July-December 1825, p36)

Unfortunately, we have lost this inscription long time back. Within a few years of its discovery, it was reported as lost by the translator, James Tod himself. In his lecture on 1^st May 1824 at a meeting of newly formed Royal Asiatic Society in London, he remarked,

”The inscription, which I obtained through the kindness of my friend Colonel Skinner, had been saved from the general wreck of once great halls, by the materials being taken to erect a small place of worship; and this slab was built into the wall in a reversed position. It was afterwards presented to the Marquis of Hastings; but as it reached this nobleman at a very busy period of his career, in 1818, I know not what became of it.”

(Source:- Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol.1,1827, p135)

Tod had dedicated several years of his life in India towards researching and writing the history of Rajputana, alongside his duties in the services of Company. No doubt, it was very frustrating for a dedicated historian like Tod, to loose such an important piece of history.

On Page 260 of Hisar District Gazetter, Published by Revenue Department, Chandigarh, Haryana in 1987, it says that this inscription is a part of collection of Royal Scottish Museum at Edinburgh, Scotland.

It was an encouraging find and in order to get its photograph or any available sketch, I wrote to them with all the available information about this inscription, but so far I have not received any reply. I guess, I should just keep on requesting them.

Recently (2019), I found another evidence which supports this inscription's presence at Royal Scottish Museum. In an article titled under- "Some Unpublished Inscriptions" By D.R. Bhandarkar, M.A., Poona, he mentions- "The inscription Stone, strange to say, is now lying in the Royal Scottish Museum at Edinburgh. Two Excellent Photographs of it  had been sent four years ago by a person connected with this Museum to a Parsi gentleman in Poona, called Mr. Frenchman, who made them over to me. And it is from these photographs that i edit the inscription."

                                                                              (source: P17, The Indian Antiquary, Vol- XLI-1912)

Well, until the photograph or sketch of this inscription is found, we have to find solace in the translations of Tod and Fell.

( For Translations consult following sources:-

Captain E. Fell's translation (who died in 1824, before the publication of his translation) – Asiatic Researches, Volume-15, 1825, p443 to p446.

Captain Tod’s Translation- Transactions of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, vol-1, p133 to p154

Translation is also available in:-

“Inscriptions of Haryana” Edited by SR Phogat, 1978, p38 to p41.
“Hansi: Itihaas ki Dharohar” By. Jagdish Saini,  2005, p277 to p279 )

As it was the tradition during early medieval periods that every new generation of conquerors had tried to leave behind its own marks of greatness by rubbing off the deeds of its predecessors especially when the predecessor belonged to a completely different set of ideals and beliefs. History of Hansi is a proof of this.

With one inscription lost, Hansi received another equally remarkable inscription which happens to be among the earliest Persian inscriptions in the subcontinent. This inscription was fixed on top of Barsi Gate in the year 1303 (Hijri 703) and is still there. This one is glorifying the Khilji Dynasty ruler , Alauddin Khilji. 

Persian Inscription on top of Barsi Gate, Hansi

(Photo Courtesy of Sh. Jagdish Saini, Author and Historian)

At least now we can safely say that the gate has been around in its present form for more than 700 years now. How much of it has been contributed by the previous rulers, we cannot say conclusively.

Barsi Gate has been repaired several times since then.

Earliest available proof of its repairing is on a Persian inscription above the sentry room on the left side of gate. It bears the year 1522 AD (Hijri 928) and was erected during the reign of Ibrahim Shah Lodhi.

Inscription inside Barsi Gate

(Photo Courtesy of Sh. Jagdish Saini, Author and Historian)

In the year 1799, when George Thomas decided to make Hansi, the capital of his newly conquered territory, the very first thing he did was to order the repairing of city walls and the fort.

                (Source “Military memoirs of Mr. George Thomas” by William Francklin, 1805, p133)

A fierce battle was fought in the city on December 1801 between the Marathas and George Thomas. This battle seemed to have caused a lot of damage to the gate. This damage can be seen in the first ever sketch of the city available to us. Right tower of the gate seems to have been damaged badly during this war.

Sketch of Barsi Gate drawn by Captain Robert Smith (1783-1873) in 1812

(Courtesy of British Library)

This damage is also visible in the beautiful color painting of city, by an Indian Artist Sitaram who was part of the convoy of then Governor General, Marquis of Hastings during his journey across the Company governed territories in 1814-15.

Closeup of the painting by Sitaram

(Courtesy of British Library)

In the reports of Archaeological Survey of India for the year 1935-36, it says that some stone guards were fixed against the piers of the gate.

Repairing work on Barsi Gate was also done in 2001.

(source:- p20, Hansi-Itihaas ki Darohar by Sh. Jagdish Saini, 2005)

Another major restoration work has got completed recently (in last quarter of 2013) and the work done by the department is really appreciable.

Earliest available photograph of Barsi Gate was taken by a local photographer Mr. Arjun Dalmia (Arjun Photostudio) during late 1950s.

1950s Photograph of Barsi Gate by Arjun Dalmia

(For this photograph and its related information I am thankful of Sh. Jagdish Saini)

Being the oldest intact monument of city and because to its critical location of being situated at one of the most busiest section of the city, it should be constantly monitored for cracks and other damages.

Following sources were consulted for details- 

"Military memoirs of Mr.George Thomas", by William Francklin, 1805 

"Tajkira-e-Hansi" by Kaji Saiyyad Sarif Hussain, 1915

"Hansi Etihasik Sinhavlokan" by Dr. Bhup Singh Rajput, 1981.    

"Hisar-i-Firuza: Sultanate and Early Mughal Architecture in the district of Hisar, India" by Mehrdad and Natalie Shokoohy, 1988

"Hansi-Etihaas ki Darohar" by Sh. Jagdish Saini, 2005 (which is by far the most detailed book on the history of Hansi)

About Hansi:- Hansi is situated on National Highway 10 (Delhi to Hisar) at around 130 Km from Delhi, 65 Km from Rohtak and 24 Km from Hisar.

About Barsi Gate:-It is such a famous landmark that you can ask anyone in Hansi, for directions. If you are coming from Delhi (NH-10) then after crossing the city bus stand, take right from the next circle (Ambedkar Chowk) and keep following this street for around 700-800 mtrs and you will find yourself staring at this gate.

Co-ordinates of the Monument:- 29°05’55.38”N 75°57’51.71”E