9* The Topkhana Mosque at Santipiir. 



Bv Maulavi 'Abd'ul Wall 



When visiting San tipur, a considerable town in the District 

 of Nadia, on the 4th September, 1915, 1 little expected that 

 there could be any ancient building there dedicated for the 

 worship of the Muhammadans. I found, however, to my sur- 

 prise that there was a very large population of Muhammadans 

 — mostly tailors and masons — and at a short distance, a diln 

 pidated Mosque, with an inscribed slab, which had fallen away 

 but is kept inside it. I took an impression of the inscription 

 which is inserted below. .The local Muhammadans told me 

 bat there were formerly there a Topkhana and citadel close i" 

 the Mosque ; but I could see no traces of them. It was the 

 policy of the Mughal Emperors to build forts and moats at a 

 short distance from the capitals of Hindu chiefs and on Trunk 

 Roads and water channels, and to station there a considerable 

 number of soldiers. This I found to be the case at Narayan- 

 garh r in the District of Mednipur ; and in other places. Krish 

 nagar. once the capital of Nadia Raj, was connected with Santi- 

 pur by a broad and high causeway. 



2. Bakhtyar-Ghat. 



J 



There is a ghat, or steps, to the river Bhagirathl. which 



nous beneath Santipiir. called Bakhtvar-Ghat, bo called, it 1 

 — J - - F -- •• »--■• - J BakhtyarKhil 



_ tyar Khilji \va 



done quietly and stealthily without giving rise to suspicion or 

 alarm. Instead of going direct to Nadia or Navadwipa, where 

 the aged Raja then lived, the Khilji marauder took, in all pro- 

 bability, a circuitous route, and landed at. or embarked from, a 

 place since called Bakhtyar-Ghat. From Santipur, I conjee 

 Uire, he proceeded to Navadwipa, which was then situated on 

 the Bhagirathi and was almost surrounded by water, and selec 

 r ed a most appropriate hour for attack viz. the time of after 



meal. Go where you may, in any of the Bengali village-- 



noon 



and towns, vou will see that between I and 3 p.m. all Bengal 

 and his w if e are either bathing, praying, breakfasting or sleeping 

 •n their ordinary clothes. I have seen houses of influential 

 landholders and rajas deserted by attendants and servants. 



„ ' Some say the Ghat is named after some other person, called 

 HakhtyRr U.ndal. 



