Jahaj Kothi Zonal Museum

Jahaj Kothi Museum is a later era building located inside Firoz Shah Palace Complex and maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. It is called the jahaj, Hindi for the ship as its shape resembles a ship. It was originally a Jain temple which was later used as residence by the Irish mercenary adventurer George Thomas (c. 1756 – 22 August 1802).

George's father was a poor Catholic tenant farmer near Roscrea who died when George was a child. Originally press-ganged at Youghal, where he worked as a labourer on the docks, Thomas deserted from the British Navy in Madras in 1781. Still illiterate, he led a group of Pindaris north to Delhi by 1787, where he took service under Begum Samru of Sardhana. Supplanted in her favour by a Frenchman, he transferred his allegiance to Appa Rao, a Mahratta chieftain.[2] He carved out an independent kingdom in the districts of Rohtak and Hissar and made Hansi as his capital.[3] During his short period of rule, he established a mint in Hansi and released rupees of his own kingdom. His area of control included area from Ghaggar to Beri in south and from Meham to Baharda in west. He rebuilt Hansi, which was in ruined state and built defensive walls and fortifications.[3]

In 1796 AD, George rebuilt Jahaj Kothi at Hisar, Haryana which was his residence. He ruled the area independently up to 1801, when he was driven out by Sikh-Maratha-French confederacy.[3] He was finally defeated and captured by Scindia's army under General Pierre Cuillier-Perron. He died on his way down the Ganges on 22 August 1802.[2]

After George's defeat, this was taken over by James Skinner (c. 1778 – 1841) who also used this as his residence. It lies near the locality called jahaj pul or "jahaj bridge" which still exists in the form of a ramp road to its east between this building and auto market. Archaeological Survey of India use this as its site office and maintains a small museum inside.[1][4][5]

Colonel James Skinner CB (1778 – 4 December 1841) was an Anglo-Indian military adventurer in India, who became known as Sikandar Sahib later in life, and is most known for two cavalry regiments he raised for the British, later known as 1st Skinner's Horse and 3rd Skinner's Horse (formerly 2nd Skinner's Horse) at Hansi in 1803, which still are a part of the Indian Army[6]

Built in 18th century, the building is constructed of burnt mud and clay bricks and mortar made of lime, sand, and surkhi.[7] Surkhi is made by grinding to powder burnt bricks, brick-bats or burnt clay, used as a substitute for sand for concrete and mortar, has almost the same function as of sand but it also imparts some strength and hydraulicity.

This zonal museum, maintained by the Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums,[8] houses the collection of Jain artifacts and inscription stone of George Thomas in English and Persian who had renovated this building to use as his residence.[1][4][5]

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  Marble slab of Skinner's tomb in St. James' Church or Skinner's Church, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi
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  St. James' Church or Skinner's Church, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi
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  Skinner's Horse party.Folio from 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi’, an album by Sir Thomas Metcalfe, 1843.
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  A folio of Tazkirat al-umara by James Skinner, 1830, depicting Portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Punjab.

• Picture of inscription dating the earlier renovation to 1796 by George Thomas
• 31-image online picture gallery of Jahaj Kothi museum taken by American Institute of Indian Studies in 2008 CE
• Exterior-1 of Jahaj Kothi before the recent 21st century renovation
• Exterior-2 of Jahaj Kothi before the recent 21st century renovation
• Exterior-3 of Jahaj Kothi before the recent 21st century renovation
• Exterior-4 of Jahaj Kothi before the recent 21st century renovation
• Interior of Jahaj Kothi Museum