Munirka
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Munirka | |
|---|---|
  Munirka Location in Delhi, India | |
| Coordinates: 28°33′12″N 77°10′28″E / 28.553212°N 77.174482°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Delhi |
| District | South Delhi |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 110067 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | New Delhi |
| Civic agency | NDMC |
Munirka is now an urban village in South Delhi, located near Jawaharlal Nehru University and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi campuses. Small lands of Munirka villagers were reacquired by the Central Government because of illegal occupation and baseless claims. Its neighborhood consists of the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on the south, Vasant Vihar on the northwest, R.K. Puram on the northern side and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi campus and Ber Sarai on south-eastern front. The outer ring road forms the north to the east boundary of this and also making it accessible. This is near the flyover. Munirka is also popular for its furniture market, and other small, dense markets that provide basic necessities to its residents.
Munirka is further divided into four portions namely Munirka DDA Flats, Munirka Enclave, Munirka Vihar & Munirka Village. While Delhi Development Authority developed the first three in 1970s & sold it on draw basis, the original inhabitants of Munirka continue to stay in Munirka Village. While bureaucrats and businessmen live in these flats, in the village area, migrant people from across the country—mostly north eastern states—stay here as tenants.
The notification for the urbanisation of Munirka was issued in March 1954, making it one of the earliest villages to be urbanised.[1]
The nearest metro station is Munirka.
Migrants and population
[edit]Munirka has always been home to a large number of migrants. It has a very high population density for a small area. This derives from Munirka's proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru University, Rama Krishna Puram, Vasant Vihar Indian Institute of Technology and its location on the Outer Ring Road, which makes easy transport to and from many business centres of Delhi. One can find people from every single province in India here, and eateries and restaurants catering to their palette as well. There is a Korean church, a Sikh gurdwara, and a mosque other than the Baba Ganganath temple, which houses the patron deity of the village.
Munirka Village is also considered to be a student-friendly neighbourhood, as many who study in nearby campuses live there.
Architecture
[edit]
It is a very old village—complete with a smattering of Lodi-era monuments—now absorbed by the relentless expansion of Delhi, which has both changed and threatened the very culture of the pre-urban communities of the Delhi region - Bramhin and Dalit. There is a baoli (step well), a Lodi structure and a small Saiyid (a small mazaar-like shrine) of Sufi Saint called Ajirpur preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India in the park across the Outer Ring Road in R.K. Puram Sector-5. Elder residents of Munirka can still be found to offer a jot (incense on a stick; Hindi jyot), testifying to the syncretic cultural history of the region. This part of the village has given to the DDA sports complex, Vasant Kunj, Jawahar Lal University and the DTC Bus Depot. Further to the west Basant Lok and Vasant Vihar have been built on agrarian land which was acquired by the Delhi government from Munirka and Basant villages. To the north R.K. Puram has also been built on such land. One can see the Qutub Minar from parts of Munirka. It is also on the path of planes landing at the Delhi International Airport.
Historical sites
[edit]-
Boali Munirka, built in Lodhi dynasty period, 1451 - 1526 A.D.
Notable people
[edit]- Khajan Singh, Indian swimmer
- Rajat Tokas, Indian television actor
- Narinder Tokas, President , Delhi University Students Union (DUSU)