The Haveli Todar Mal popularly known as Jahaz Haveli or Jahaz Mahal is the 17th century residence of Todar Mal, a Khatri Punjabi businessman from Sirhind, and an ardent follower of the Sikh Gurus, who became the diwan in the court of NawabWazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind, under Mughal Empire. Today, it is remember for the cremation of young martyred sons of Guru Gobind Singh and his mother. The haveli is situated in Harnam Nagar, on the Eastern side of Sirhind-Rupnagar Railway Line just 1 km away from Fatehgarh Sahib, and is now being taken over and restored by SGPC with the help of Punjab govt and INTACH. Todar Mal descendants moved from Sirhind to Ludhaina. The present descendants known as Mandals are from sub caste of Sood and are Kshatriyas. Both Todar Mal's in history are from the same family. The mandal family records are available in Haridwar since the 16th century. Todar Mal was from Punjab.
Architecture
The lavish haveli constructed with Sirhindi bricks stand just outside the Mughal Governor Nawab Wazir Khan's palace, once boasts of a grand reception area to receive and entertain guests and a well laid-out ground complete with a pool and fountains.
Diwan Todar Mal
Todar Mal was an Jain businessman and as per account in the Phulkian state gazetteer, he belonged to Kakra village, a few miles from Patiala. In Sikh history, he is remembered for buying a small piece of land for the cremation of the dead bodies of Mata Gujri, the mother and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the two younger sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 1704 A.D, by paying an exorbitant price to the Wazir Khan Governor Of Sarhind. He had to cover the whole piece of land with gold coins in a vertical position, as he was asked to vertically place gold coins on the land and only that much land was given to him which he could cover with gold coins. He later also made arrangements for their cremation. But, according to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, the bodies of all the three were cremated by the descendants of Todar Mall Shahjahani because the latter had already died in 1665-66. Todar Mal, however had to bear the brunt of Wazir Khan's wrath, and he and his family had to abandon the haveli soon after, and themselves faded into oblivion, with dilapidated building being their only reminder. In the coming years, the haveli fell into rapid disrepair, and collapsed at many place. Though it survived ransacking of Sirhind by Banda Bahadur and during the reign of The Sikh Confederacy, the haveli was left untouched out of respect for Diwan Todar Mal. Today, Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup, now stands at the place where these three martyrs were cremated and the road connecting the two Gurdwaras is known as Dewan Todar Mal Marg. Even today Diwan Todar Mal is deeply respected by the Sikhs and a Diwan Todar Mal Memorial Hall, congregation hall has been constructed at historic Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib by SGPC.
