Question

Why did british rulers want delhi to forget its mughal past?

Answer 1

After the revolt of 1857, the British wanted Delhi to forget its Mughal past. In pursuance of this goal, the area around the Red Fort was completely cleared of gardens, pavilions and mosques. This was done under the pretext of the British wanting a clear ground for security reasons. Mosques in particular were either razed or put to other use. For example, the Zinat-al-Masjid was converted into a bakery and no worship was allowed in the Jama Masjid for as long as five years. One-third of the city was demolished and its canals were filled up. Later in the 1870s, the western walls of Shahjahanabad were also broken to lay railway lines and expand the city beyond the walls.