Agra: A nine-member committee constituted by Agra mayor Navin Jain will decide the birth date of this historical city. The committee includes journalists, activists, and historians who will decide when Agra was born and who founded it. This initiative could also open up a Pandora’s box of controversies.

The Agra Municipal Corporation wants to celebrate the birthday of this great historical city with half a dozen spectacular monuments that draw millions of tourists round the year.

Three Mughal structures are world heritage monuments, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, while two others Etmauddaula and Sikandra are in the pipeline.

The city of monuments is short to be declared a heritage city. A proposal is under consideration by the Supreme Court.

Agra mayor Navin Jain has constituted a committee of “nine jewels” to decide on the date, Agra city was born. The committee includes eminent historians, senior media persons, and academics.

The task is not easy, as reliable historical documents, give no clear indication how and when the city came into existence, and how it got its name.

Mayor Jain said Agra was a very ancient city with more than 40 Shiva temples, some as old as the Mahabharat.

Bateshwar town which has 101 Shiva temples in a row along the bend of river Yamuna, was the seat of power during the reign of Vasudev, father of Sri Krishna. If mythology is to be believed Agra was “Agrvan” (frontier forest), one of the 12 forests of Braj Mandal, the Leela Bhoomi of Sri Krishna.

Some historians say Agra was part of the Kannauj empire of the Chauhans, while another group claims Agra was a pargana of the Bayana Nawab. Archaeological findings suggest Agra was the extension of the Mathura empire.

In 2004, some heritage conservationists and local hotels along with tourism bodies had planned grand celebrations to commemorate five hundred years of the founding of Agra by Sikander Lodi in 1504. But due to controversy, the plan was given up.

Some Hindutva historians claim Agra got its name from sage Angira, some two thousand years ago.

Mayor Navin Jain hopes, that once the date is decided, big celebrations could be organised. The city folks must take pride in their history and heritage. Birth day celebrations can help in creating this pride and bonding, the municipal officials say.