Walled City Tour

No country in the world has so many of these grand protective bastions that have withstood the whip-lashes of time,and served dynasties...

No country in the world has so many of these grand protective bastions that have withstood the whip-lashes of time,and served dynasties,holding within their walls the stories and secrets of a lost era. In India,forts are a heritage that speak of a rich culture and architecture, Vijai Vardhan asserts. An IAS officer,Vardhan has just completed the voice-over for one of Doordarshans upcoming projects,a series on the forts of India,titled Forts of India,which will go on air next month. It has been produced and directed by Chandigarh-based GS Chani and his son Gyandev. It was Prasar Bharti chief BS Lallis idea, says GS Chani,talking of the five long years it took them to complete the series.

Sadly,there is no comprehensive study or archival material available on the forts of India. After extensive research,which included scouting the length and breadth of the country and visiting over 150 forts,the father-son duo shortlisted 26 and roped in Dr Pushpesh Pant to work on the content. It was a discovery of sorts,getting to know our history while exploring some of the greatest forts that we have, he says.

Some of the forts to be featured in the series include Chittaurgarh and Bundi in Rajasthan,the fort in Mandu,Madhya Pradesh,built by Baz Bahadur and Roopmati,and Seringapatam Fort in Mysore built by Tipu Sultan. Weve grown up focussing primarily on the Independence Movement,with passing references to forts and other monuments in medieval history. When you visit these places,you realise how much more there is to Indian history,and how things change over time. For instance,the Gingee Fort near Puducherry finds no mention in history or architecture books,but it is a great construction atop three steep hills, says Gyandev,who has also composed the music for the series.

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The assignment has left them with several memorable experiences from wandering through the Janjira Fort at Murud,built by Abyssinian slaves in the middle of the Arabian Sea,a mere 40-minute boat ride from the Gateway of India in Mumbai,to taking security cover along with them during their shoot at the Kalinjar Fort in Uttar Pradesh,known for being a hide-out for anti-social elements.

Each fort was a unique experience. All of them are defence marvels,living proof of the diverse culture that has always flourished in India. The romanticism that envelops these walls is palpable, says Chani.

Coming up next is a coffee-table book and a blog on the same.

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