No, this isn’t about adolescents. Teen Darwaza is an important historical and cultural site in the city of Ahmedabad, India, the location where much of India Interlude takes place. In this case, “teen” means three in Hindi and Urdu, two languages spoken in India. “Darwaza” means gate or door. Thus, Teen Darwaza means three gates, which can be seen in the photos, one a recent view, and one from the 1880s. Although the architecture has remained the same, it is now a popular shopping area, overflowing with activity.
Ahmedabad is an old city, and these gates were completed in 1415 as the entrance to the royal compound, the Bhadra Fort, when it was ruled by the Muslim sultan, Ahmed Shah, after whom the city was named. The arches are twenty-five feet high, so they’re a sight to behold. But sometimes, given all the activity in the market abutting the gates, it’s easy to get distracted.
That’s what happened to Barbara, one of the characters in India Interlude. She came to the area to buy some books, and was overwhelmed by all the sights, sounds, and smells. The picture of Teen Darwaza in modern times gives a sense of how busy it can get. There’s also an interesting plaque that was added several centuries after the gates were built. It provides instructions for how a family should provide for their daughters’ inheritance, but you’ll have to have Barbara explain that to you!
