Shah Daula Bridge: A Remarkable Structure Witnessing the Tides of History

 

Shah Daula Bridge, also known as Pul Shah Daula, is a historic arched bridge that stretches over Nullah Degh, situated in the village of Pul Shah Daula within Gujranwala district. The small village near the bridge was named after it due to its proximity and lack of distinct identity. Over the years, habitation grew around the bridge keeper's house, leading to the village adopting the bridge's name for simplicity's sake. Today, the bridge remains a prominent landmark in the area, surrounded by legends and myths that overshadow its true historical significance.

                                       

The mythical Degh Nullah, alternatively known as Dik Nullah in historical texts, flows from the northeast to the southwest, dividing the region into two sections. North of the Degh lies Pul Shah Daula, while to the south, several scattered villages like Gunaur, Mandir, Kachli, and Hanjanwali can be found. Pul Shah Daula is situated in a serene and less-traveled region, with nearby towns including Wahndo, Kamonke, Muridke, and Narang Mandi.

According to the research of renowned historian Dr. Saifur Rehman Dar, Pul Shah Daula was likely constructed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, making the bridge approximately 400 years old. However, historical records fail to explain why the bridge is associated with the famous saint Shah Daula, who is buried in Gujrat.

During the rule of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Empire expanded westward beyond the Khyber Pass, reaching Ghazna and Kandahar. The Grand Trunk Road played a vital role in supplying and communicating with military troops in a timely manner. Pul Shah Daula served as one of the significant bridges along this crucial road. Its submersion in floods would have caused panic in Shah Jahan's court, and the decision to hastily build a new bridge on top of the existing structure was made to ensure continued access. The bridge features a solitary tower (burj) at one end, but its overall stability appears compromised, and the responsible government department has neglected its preservation, despite its historical importance.

                                             

After the death of Aurangzeb, a brief and intense struggle for the throne ensued, resulting in the deaths of two of his sons and three of his grandsons on the battlefield. His eldest surviving son, Mu’azzam (Shah Alam), proclaimed himself emperor with the title of Bahadur Shah at the bridge of Shah Daula, located twenty-four miles north of Lahore, after receiving news of his father's death in Jamrud on March 22, 1707.

The King of Pul Shah Daula was welcomed as the ruler of Lahore and later assumed the title of Mughal Emperor in Agra. This successful transition was made possible due to well-organized transport systems and armies, as well as careful planning for the war of succession. However, the detailed process of this transition is beyond the scope of this article. Shah Alam, also known as Abul-nasr Sayyid Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Shah Alam Bahadur Shah Badshah, governed the Mughal Kingdom for approximately five years until his death in February 1712 in Lahore. Historian Latif notes that the Shah Alami Gate in the Walled City of Lahore was named after Shah Alam.

Renowned historian Salman Rashid points out that historical records do not specify the exact date of the construction or collapse of the old bridge. However, a legend recorded by A. C. Elliot and published in Indian Antiquity (February 1909) narrates that during the reign of Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal king, a flood in the Degh river caused the loss of laden pack animals. The district administrator, Mirza Badi uz Zaman, was tasked to urgently build a bridge across the river before the emperor's return journey. Due to challenges in obtaining fired bricks during the monsoon season, the Mirza faced delays and ultimately imprisoned all the brick makers. When confronted, he claimed that only Shah Daula, known for his public works, could construct the bridge. Shah Daula was summoned from Gujrat, and under his supervision, the bridge was eventually completed.

The legend seems to have arisen from Shah Daula's reputation as a great patron of public works in Sialkot and later in Gujrat. He lived during the reigns of Akbar the Great, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb until his death in 1676, making the chronology of him being a contemporary of Shah Jahan accurate. While evidence suggests that Shah Daula received gifts from devotees and used them for public works, it remains uncertain if the bridge linked to his name was constructed during Shah Jahan's reign. The legend gained prominence in the mid-17th century, coinciding with the actual construction of the bridge.

The Khulasa tut Twarikh (Compendium of Histories) by Subhan Rai attributes a bridge to Shah Daula, located five kos (approximately sixteen kilometers) from Eminabad on the road to Lahore. However, there is no definite date mentioned for its construction, given that Shah Daula lived during the reigns of Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb.

Another historian named Tariq Masood points out that the bridge's original name was Pull Saadullah or Saadullahpur, named after a renowned courtier of Shah Jahan. This courtier was also known for his skills in building. However, historical records do not indicate any bridge-building project in the area undertaken by him or anyone else under Shah Jahan's orders. The Shah Jahan Nama documents that heavy rainfall in October 1652 led to the submergence of roads near present-day Lahore district, causing the washing away of boat bridges. This hindered King Shah Jahan's return to Lahore from Jahangirabad (Sheikhupura). Similar difficulties were recorded in Tuzk e Jahagiri, written by Shah Jahan's father, near Sheikhupura, where a bridge was constructed on the Degh river to address flooding during the monsoon season. However, there is no mention of the Shah Daula Bridge in Shah Jahan's chronicle, raising the possibility that it might not have been built during his reign, even though it could have been constructed by Shah Daula.

The bridge featured double gateways below its main arched opening, connected by a cantilever to create a shallow rectangular opening. Observing the absence of a traditional arch in the flat cantilever surprised the author, who associated flat arches with modern developments. However, later in Lahore, the author discovered that the Mughals were familiar with the art of constructing flat arches and domes.

Presently, the bridge remains a forgotten monument situated on an isolated road in northern Punjab. Kabiruddin Lodhi, known as Shah Daula, is no longer remembered for his public service and good work but for the microcephalic children abandoned at his shrine, a result of in-breeding and not his doing. However, the enduring association of Shah Daula with the bridge keeps his spirit of public service alive, as people still invoke his name while using the bridge or living nearby.

                                                       

In 2020, during an exploration of the short route between Eminabad and Amritsar (known as the GT road), the author visited the bridge. They discovered a tall bridge with five arches still actively used for all types of traffic. The most fascinating aspect was that the bridge consisted of two decks, with the piers supporting the upper deck rising from another deck slab located about one foot above the current water level in the stream. The height difference between the two deck slabs was 20 feet. The bridge was constructed in two phases, with the first phase surviving severe floods from the Degh Nullah. The recent construction of the Lahore Sialkot Motorway close to the bridge posed a potential threat, but its survival remained uncertain unless renovated.