As a history enthusiast who has traversed the winding lanes of Chanderi, I must say that Kati Ghati stands as a poignant testament to the indomitable spirit of craftsmanship and the haunting echoes of unfulfilled ambition. The sheer magnitude of this living rock sculpture, carved by an anonymous mason in a single night, leaves one breathless with awe.
Amar Kaushik’s Stree series was filmed predominantly in the town of Chanderi, with its sequel recently hitting the screens. A memorable scene featuring Shraddha Kapoor saying goodbye to Rajkummar Rao was set against a significant landmark. Today, we delve into the true tale behind that scene. The location in question is known as Kati Ghati, which serves as an entrance to Chanderi and falls under the Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh.
The massive gate is carved directly from a colossal piece of a living hill rock and stands about 10 meters tall with a width of 25 meters. Inscriptions in Devnagari and Nasikh scripts adorn this gate, which was built by Jiman Khan in 1480 CE. Remarkably, Jiman Khan was the son of Sher Khan, who served as the governor of Chanderi at that time.
In ancient times, it’s told that the ruler of Malwa, Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji, unexpectedly planned to visit Chanderi. This sudden event necessitated the construction of a gate in a short time for his welcome. Jiman Khan offered a significant reward to any mason who could create the gate overnight. Among 100 skilled craftsmen, only one accepted this daunting task and remarkably completed it, leaving Khan astonished and amazed.
Jiman didn’t want to intentionally reward Mason, so he mentioned that this gateway had no door, potentially leaving the Sultan of Malwa’s security at risk. This devastating news was too much for the diligent Mason to bear, and he tragically took his own life on the spot. The grave nearby is where Mason fell after taking his life.
Today, Chanderi’s most notable draw is the tale of his sacrifice, yet it remains an unfortunate narrative that doesn’t end happily for him. Another account about Kati Ghati hints that the hill was blocking Babur’s army from entering Chanderi, so he ordered its carving to create a passage. Yet, this version is seldom found.
Stree 2 is currently in theatres near you.
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2024-08-18 17:07