Remember Shaheen falcon. Shaheen Bagh is named after this falcon. The name comes from a poem by Allama Iqbal. His poem is called Bal-e-Jibril. It means Gabriel’s Wing.
Shaheen Bagh is a South East Delhi neighborhood. It sits on the U.P. border. It is the southernmost part of Okhla. This area is also called Jamia Nagar. Shaheen Bagh is known for protests. People gathered here to protest the CAA. They also protested against the NRC and NPR. Shaheen Bagh has a large Muslim population.
Let’s walk through its history. Shaheen Bagh is the newest part of Jamia Nagar. It grew after the mid-1980s. Before that it was farmland. The Hindu Gujjar community sold plots of land. People came here because it was cheaper than Jamia Nagar. Many people who earned money in Arab countries bought property here. Early on there were few services. Roads were bad. There was no sewage system or electricity.
The Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 changed things. Muslims from mixed areas sought safety in Shaheen Bagh. This made the community denser and more diverse. You could find construction workers here. There were also professors from Jamia Millia Islamia. Businessmen also called Shaheen Bagh home.
Let us talk about its diverse community. People come from Uttar Pradesh. Many residents are also from Bihar. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana are represented. The Muslim community holds varied Islamic beliefs. Shaheen Bagh’s buildings are mostly mid-rise apartments. These buildings sit on small plots of land. Plots range from 25 to 400 square meters.
Numerous private schools dot Shaheen Bagh. These schools are built on small plots. These plots are 200-300 square yards. Being a Muslim area it has many mosques. Islamic institutions are scattered throughout.
40 Feet Road is a key road. It links Kalindi Kunj Road to Allama Shibli Nomani Road. Cafes and biryani stalls popped up here. They catered to protesters. Social media boosted the area’s fame. Food lovers came seeking Mughlai cuisine. They also enjoyed Arabic and Italian food. New Delhi’s Mughlai food eateries opened here. Javed Famous Nihari is one of them. So is Zehra Biryani. Aslam Butter Chicken, Karim’s and Qureshi Kabab joined too. Shaheen Bagh is now a major food hub.
Factory outlets are a big deal here too. You can find clothing brands. Allen Solly is one. Woodland is here too. Van Heusen, Flying Machine and Arrow are here. Bata, Skechers, Biba and Adidas have outlets. These outlets line the lane by GD Birla Marg.
Connectivity is key in Shaheen Bagh. Nearby are commercial areas like Noida. Nehru Place and Sarita Vihar are close. Jasola, Okhla Industrial Area and Kalindi Kunj are easily reached. The Okhla Railway Station is nearby. Universities are accessible. Jamia Millia Islamia and Jamia Hamdard are easy to reach. Amity University is also close. The Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh metro station connects to Delhi. Buses run from Kalindi Kunj.
The Shaheen Bagh protests are very famous. They were part of a nationwide movement. People protested against the CAA, NRC and NPR. Muslim women led the protests. They sat in for over 4 months. They blocked the highway to Noida. Sharjeel Imam called for this traffic block.
The spirit of Shaheen Bagh remains strong. It stands as a reminder. Ordinary people can rise. They can challenge injustice. They can shape their own destiny.