‘Malik Ambar ki Pipeline’: Reconstructing the Past Through Community Memories

Malik Ambar, an Abyssinian slave-turned-de facto ruler of the Nizamshahi dynasty (16th–17th centuries), is renowned for his strategic defense against Mughal expansion. Less recognized is his pivotal role in constructing a sophisticated water management system that sustained Daulatabad Fort as a second capital, enabling it to support a large garrison in an arid Deccan landscape. This study reconstructs Ambar's hydrological contributions—including cisterns, wells, baolis, tanks, and talaabs—through community memories and site-based interactions, offering a 'from below' perspective on his legacy. It reveals how local communities preserved knowledge of these water systems, underscoring their resilience in managing scarce resources. The research bridges historical records with oral traditions, providing new insights into Ambar's influence and the fort's hydrological ingenuity.

Mubayi, Y. (2020). ‘Malik Ambar ki Pipeline’: Reconstructing the Past Through Community Memories. The Medieval History Journal, 23(2), 370–398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971945820959897