What makes the Iron Pillar of Delhi so special?

The Qutub Minar is an intricate piece of architecture, surrounded by damaged but still majestic ruins of an old dynasty, collectively known as the Qutub Complex to people of Delhi. That is where stands the Iron Pillar of Delhi, a very plain looking column with strange inscriptions on the base and a small figurine on top. It’s only 23 feet tall and it has been standing rust-free – for over 1600 years!  

This is just one puzzle about it though. Let’s see some other strange facts:  

• Scientists have been inspecting the pillar for a very, very long time to crack its mystery. The pillar is coated in a thin film (about 1/20th of a millimetre) in a substance called ‘misawite’. This is a compound of iron, oxygen and hydrogen which does not rust.
• Was this film created by accident due to lack of lime in the furnace where it was made or was this coating purposely added to protect it? Probably the second reason, but we can’t be certain.
• The pillar is 98% purest iron. How could a furnace of that temperature exist so long ago?  
• According to the Brahmi (an ancient Indian language) inscription at the foot of the pillar, it’s also a ‘kirti stambha’ honouring King Chandra. Was this Chandragupta Vikramaditya?  
• Does that mean the pillar was brought from his kingdom in Madhya Pradesh to Delhi. Who dragged a 6,511 kilogram pillar through this huge distance and how?  
• The Iron Pillar’s inscription tells it also honours Vishnu. Some people have suggested it was part of a sundial. Where was this giant sundial?  
• Why is the Iron Pillar surrounded by tombs from another dynasty that ruled much, much later? Chances are that Qutubuddin Aibak and the other rulers could not even read the ancient script on the pillar’s base. So why did they leave it standing in a solemn complex where they were to be buried with full state honours?  
• Was this Pillar meant to be kept outdoors? Or did an accidental placement open it to the elements, and then the mystery of its rust-proof iron surprised everyone so much that it just continued standing for ages through rain, sun and wind?