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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The heart of USA's Defence Department
Do you know what the Pentagon is? It is the five-sided (pentagonal-shaped) building that houses the headquarters of the US Department of Defence. It is the nerve centre of the command and control for national security in the USA. Arlington Farm, which was originally intended as the site for the building, was said to be surrounded by five roads, which led to the name 'Pentagon'. President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to have it at the present site. Although the name refers to the building, now it is used to identify the Defence Department too. The building is also known as Fort Fumble and Puzzle Palace. The Pentagon is located in Arlington, Virginia near Washington DC, across the Potomac River. It is one of the biggest and most efficient office buildings in the world, housing over 23,000 military and civilian employees and 3,000 non-defence support personnel. The total land area is 583 acres, of which 29 acres are covered by the building. It has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building in New York. Although there are 17.5 miles of corridors, it is said to take no less than seven minutes to get to any point across the building. The Pentagon was built during the early years of World War II at the request of Brigadier General Brehon B. Sommervell, Chief - Construction Division of the Office of the Quartermaster General. It was intended as a temporary solution to the shortage of space within the War Department, as the Defence Department was then known. It was built on a site which was originally a swamp and a wasteland. The ground-breaking took place on September 11, 1941, exactly 60 years before the terrorist attacks. The Pentagon was built to a neo-classical style. Its architect was George Bergstrom and construction was carried out by the private contractor, John T. McShaine Co. of Philadelphia. The foundation is said to comprise 5.5 million cubic yards of earth and 41,492 concrete piles. The building was completed within a relatively short period of 16 months, on January 15, 1943. It cost 83 million US dollars and incorporated 17 buildings of the Defence Department which, till then, were scattered across the country. The Pentagon comprises five floors above ground and two floors below, and is built as five concentric rings marked A, B, C, D and E. Each outer side of the building is 921 feet long. It has 200 acres of lawn, 16 parking lots, 131 stairways and 19 escalators. Within the building are many libraries including the Army Library which was completed in 1944, and which is the second oldest library in the USA. After the September 11, 2001 attacks destroyed part of the building, it was repaired with enhanced security features. The Pentagon is not just a building; it is an institution and a national symbol. ########## A fort which was never conquered
One such lesser known attraction is the Junagarh Fort in the Rajasthan town of Bikaner, in northern India. This is one fortress which, despite being attacked, was never conquered, except for one incident where it was captured by the enemy, Kamaran whose victory couldn't be sustained for more than 24 hours. This impressive fort was built by the Rajput ruler Raja Rai Singh between 1587 and 1593. Singh was a famous military leader who was a contemporary of the Moghul Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. He was rewarded for his bravery in battle by these emperors with part of the revenue from Gujarat and Burhanpur. He utilised these funds to build the Fort, applying the ideas for art and architecture he had seen during his travels across India. Junagarh Fort is surrounded by a high, 96 metres long wall and deep moats. Huge towers and battlements have been erected for defence purposes. There are only two entrance gates to the premises and the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) is the main entrance. The fortress comprises 37 palaces, temples and pavilions and has a red sandstone construction. The palaces have carved windows, balconies, towers and kiosks. The inner rooms are decorated and painted in traditional style. The beautiful paintings and decorations on the doors, walls and roof of the palaces denote the rich traditions of the Bikaner style. The Anup Mahal was multi-storeyed and served as the governance chambers for the rulers. Its inner walls are covered with lacquer work in red and gold, and inlaid with glass. There are pillars made of white plaster and decorated with leaves of gold. Now it is the site where the treasures of the royal family are displayed. Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds) has its walls covered with fresco paintings of Radha and Krishna. Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) has mirrors, paintings and carved marble panels while the Phool Mahal (Flower Palace) is decorated with glass and mirrors. The Karan Mahal was built to celebrate victory over Aurangzeb. The museum in the fort has a collection of artifacts including various treaties, manuscripts, jewellery, weapons, carpets, jars and numerous decorations. The royal armoury also has a superb collection of weapons which include spears, arrows, swords, shields and firearms. The First World War Tiger Moth aircraft, a gift from the British, holds pride of place here. The other notable attractions in the premises include Har Mandir, where the royals worshipped their gods and goddesses; Durga Niwas, the painted courtyard; Ganga Niwas with the red sandstone front; Vijai Mahal (Victory Palace) and Rang Mahal (Colour Palace). Successive rulers have added sections to the fort and beautified it. The Fort is presently managed by the Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust. |
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| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
You would have watched on television, airplanes crashing onto the World
Trade Centre and the Pentagon in the USA, five years ago, on September 11,
2001. You would know that although the twin towers were completely
destroyed in these terrorist attacks, the Pentagon was only partially
damaged and was repaired. 
Our neighbouring country India has many landmarks and tourist
attractions. Some of them such as the Taj Mahal are world-famous, while
some are lesser known although just as unique and historical. 
