Mirza Najaf Khan a name whispered through the ages. He established a military outpost here. This is Najafgarh. A strategic location guarding Delhi. Protecting it from enemies. British Rohillas and Sikhs threatened the city. Najafgarh’s strong fort stood defiant.
Najafgarh wasn’t always Najafgarh. Before the fort it was Mas’udabad. A pargana in Sarkar Delhi. It had a brick fort and a Jat population. The Ain-i-Akbari mentions its tax revenue. It also mentions its army. Thirty cavalry and thirty infantry.
The fort’s strategic position is key. It was near the capital Shahjahanabad. It was also a buffer zone. Protecting Delhi from invaders. It became a crucial part of Delhi’s defenses.
The 1857 rebellion saw a pivotal battle here. The Battle of Najafgarh. Rebel Indian troops clashed with the East India Company. A brutal fight. Eight hundred people lost their lives. The British victory marked a turning point. Delhi fell under British control. Najafgarh became part of Delhi district.
Najafgarh played a significant role in education. After the British took over. A new school system developed. The Delhi Normal School moved here. It shifted from Kashmere Gate in 1911. It trained teachers. Using modern European methods. It was unlike any other normal school in Northern India.
Independence brought changes. Najafgarh became part of independent India. It remained in Delhi. A legislative assembly constituency was created in 1993. Najafgarh grew. It became a densely populated area. Surrounded by seventy villages. Its borders were close to Haryana.
Today Najafgarh is a bustling town. It has its own metro station. It is also well connected by road. Buses run frequently. The Delhi Urban Extension Road-II helps with traffic. Indira Gandhi International Airport lies nearby. Najafgarh has become a vital transport hub. Famous people such as Virender Sehwag and Sushil Kumar were born here. It bears witness to its rich past. A blend of history and progress. This is Najafgarh. A place with a strong identity. A town that continues to thrive.