. Shahpur Jat is an urban village in South Delhi, located near Hauz Khas and within one of the ancient capital cities of Delhi, Siri Fort.
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Siri, the third city of Delhi, was built at the beginning of the 14th century CE by the second sultan of the Turko-Afghan Khilji dynasty Alauddin Khilji. Nearby Hauz Khas was built as a large water reservoir for this city. Probably when Siri Fort was abandoned later, Jats from what is now Haryana shifted to the Shahpur Jat area, being attracted to the fertile lands. The name of Shahpur Jat derives from this: Shah (royal) Pur (town) Jat (the name of the caste).[1]
Presently the demography of Shahpur Jat is mainly composed of Jats originally from Haryana and Bengali people, many from what is today Bangladesh.[2] Increasingly people from other places in India are moving into the urban village and also foreigners are attracted by the low rents and interesting lifestyle. Notables who have emerged from Shahpur Jat include the first Jat MP from Delhi Mr. Dalip Singh Panwar and the ex-Mayor of Delhi Jayshree Panwar.
Shahpur Jat is a very old village featuring a considerable amount of traditional havelis and remains of the historical capital city Siri Fort, such as the Tohfewala Gumbad and stretches of the thick city walls, all surrounded by a hotch-potch of 20th century appartment and office buildings.[3] The area is currently undergoing urban greening and rejuvenation, not least due to the efforts of local NGOs.
Shahpur Jat is most famous as New Delhi's fashion hub, being home to dozens of boutiques featuring trendy clothes, fashion accessories, and home decor items. Next to the sales of fashion articles, Shahpur Jat is also famous as a production centre with countless buildings in the village being used as small-scale workshops.[4]