Panipat, April 21 -- Surrounded by numerous small handloom units, narrow alleys, and bustling houses, the 500-year-old Mughal-era Kabuli Bagh Masjid still stands tall. Built in 1526, the mosque was constructed by Mughal ruler Babur to commemorate his victory over Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty in the first battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526. Though prayers at the monument have remained shut for decades, the mosque still preserves the memory of the battle that changed the course of Indian history for years to come, said Ram Mohan Rai, an advocate and public historian. Legend has it that Babur named the mosque after his wife Mussamat Kabuli Begum. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the central prayer hall has cells on either side of the mihrab, which is engraved with verses from the holy Quran. Eighteen-year-old Faizan Khan, who has just finished his schooling, frequents the mosque whenever a friend or relative visits. "I come here and explain the history of the mosque to them. It is so inspiring to witness such a huge structure standing erect even after 500 years. For the last 3-4 years, the security has been strict here, otherwise we could easily climb the wall to walk till the tomb and fly kites," Khan said, while trying to translate Arabic verses inscribed in the main hall. Eighty-two-year-old Haji Kalimuddin from Bihar's Araria was there with his nephew Afzan Khan, who works at a local factory. "We've heard about Babur and his battle and were so amazed to see its memorial. Afzan told us that prayers are not allowed here, which is unfortunate," the octogenarian said. Standing next to him was Sameer Khan from Saharanpur, who nodded in agreement. "Rab ka ghar band karna galat hai, vo chahe kisi ka bhi rab ho (It is wrong to close the house of God, no matter whose God it is)," Sameer Khan said. He also pointed out partially damaged structures and filthy sewer canals next to the mosque. "I can see CCTVs, barbed wires and security guard, but there should have been more maintenance and cleanliness to preserve this heritage structure," Khan, who also works at a local handloom unit, said. On the contrary, 68-year-old Suraj Mal Dhiman, who lives in the next lane and visits the mosque's lawn for his daily evening walk, disagrees. "I've been coming here for 15 years and have seen the mosque in its worst state. The place used to be a den of drug addicts, who would damage the structure from inside. Now, there are barbed wires on the newly built boundary wall, CCTVs and a security guard on 24/7 vigil without whose permission no one could enter. There have been maintenance works a few years ago, when a few unused areas were also closed to keep trespassers in check, but there is always scope for more," he said. Advocate Rai said the victory over Lodhi was beyond belief for Babur, who asked his soldiers to bring Lodhi's body to him. "As a mark of respect, he then built two graves for Lodhi and his loyal elephant, just two kilometres from this mosque. The place is called the Ibrahim Lodhi Tomb. These two places carry the memory of the First Battle of Panipat. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the town was the centre of Islamic education. During that period, Bu Ali Shah Kalandar, a saint of Chishti order, also arrived. A 700-year-old tomb and a dargah in his name also exist," he said. Dr Vijay Singh, head of history department at Arya PG College, said: "The battle was decisive for Babur as victory here would mean march forward to Delhi. Panipat was chosen as a suitable place for battle with Lodhi as there was a huge open area and availability of water source in the form of Yamuna river. The monument built in its memory carries huge relevance, but there has not been much documented history about it."...