CLASS ACT Tabu is upbeat about her forthcoming movies / Photo: Rajeev Bhatt / The Hindu
A visit to Hyderabad spells more than just work for Tabu. She has finished shooting for a short film on HIV/Aids produced by BBC, but she is in no hurry to pack her bags to Mumbai.
Her new home in Hyderabad is nearing completion and she plans to give the finishing touches. When that’s done, she’ll be back to court the arc lights for a few but coveted projects.
“Things are turning out just as I wanted. Inshallah! I had taken a yearlong self-imposed break after Meenaxi. Feels nice to be working in some good projects again,” she tells us.
The cause comes first
Being a celebrity, she knows that endorsing a cause is like living life on the razor’s edge. Like she says, “I’ll endorse a cause only when I believe in it. For instance, I’d like to do something substantial for the cause of the girl child. But I’d never want to draw unnecessary attention. I prefer the cause being highlighted rather than the celebrity associated with it.”
Talking about the series produced by BBC, Haath Se Haath Mila, she says, “It talks about people affected by HIV and are yet working in that field to create awareness. I shot an episode with one such victim who is doing voluntary work in Hyderabad.”
Bookmark
When Vishal Bharadwaj signed Tabu to play Lady Macbeth in Maqbool, Tabu hadn’t read the Macbeth. And neither did she want to, lest it affect the way she interpreted the film’s script.
But Mira Nair’s screen version of Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake was another tale altogether.
“I had read the book much before Mira planned the film. Even back then, I could see myself playing the part of Ashima. As an actor, I am used to associating different characters in a book with different actors.
When the film came my way, I felt like reading the book again. But I resisted that thought since I didn’t want to be influenced too much by the book. I wanted Ashima to turn out the way I had perceived her. It’s not a new character for me. I’ve done strong films like Astitva, Chandni Bar and so on… But the situations that influence Ashima are different. It’s not easy to condense a book into a film. But where Namesake is concerned, Jhumpa Lahiri is pleased with the film.”
The buzz is that the film will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival later in May. Speaking of films that have been inspired by books, Tabu adds, “Very few films do justice to a book. On that account, I enjoyed Bridges of Madison County. Meryl Streep breathed life into the entire film.”
A few good films
In the making are select projects — Kunal Kohli’s Fanaah co-starring Aamir Khan and Kajol, Cheeni Kum with Amitabh Bachchan, and a Tamil film to be directed by Gautam Menon. Having shot for Fanaah in Poland a few weeks ago, Tabu shrugs, “The makers don’t want me to talk about the film now.”
But she is more forthcoming on acting with Amitabh Bachchan.
Remind her that Bachchan had once confessed that one Indian actress he would like to act with is Tabu and the actress smiles, “What can I say? It’s tough to express it in words when someone like him appreciates your work. We’ll start shooting for Cheeni Kum in April. It’s a mature love story, but not a serious film. We both play our respective ages.”
Detractors accuse her of being too selective about her films. Tabu shrugs it off with, “I do projects that I’d like to be associated with. At different points of time, different thoughts have influenced my choice of films. I don’t do a film to prove a point to anyone. I am at ease doing a strong social film and at the same time, I don’t mind doing an entertaining, light-hearted film.
“After almost 18 years in this profession, I think I’m only answerable to the audience if they feel I’ve done a bad job. Acting, in its purest form, has held me in good stead. When I’m focused on that, everything else is secondary.”
source: http://www.hindu.com / The Hindu – Online Edition / Home> Features> Magazine / by Sangeetha Devi K / Thursday – March 09th, 2006
With barely three weeks for the Lok Sabha election, Kerala’s political parties are grappling with the fallout of defections, new alliances and the challenge from formidable opponents.
But this poll season, it’s business as usual for 36-year-old Abdul Khader–a song writer based in Kochi–as he works overtime in the recording studio, creating songs for the two warring political fronts with the same gusto. Kerala has been a flourishing market for “parody songs” since the 1990s, but a post-digital lull had hit the industry before Assembly and Lok Sabha elections revitalised the market.
Abdul started out with election parodies in 1997. Seventeen years later, he has morphed into a busy producer churning out songs on demand both for the ruling United Democratic Front and the opposition Left Democratic Front.
“This is a fairly easy season because it’s the Lok Sabha election. With 20 constituencies, there’s a maximum of only about 60 candidates to work for. With the Assembly election that covers 140 constituencies, it’s a different scene,” Abdul said.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / DHNS , DH News Service / Thiruvananthapuram – March 19th, 2014
Mammootty takes up farming in a battle against chemical fertilisers
SAYING NO TO CHEMICALS Mammootty has turned to natural paddy cultivation.
Mammootty has played farmer in many films. Now, dismayed by the use of chemicals in farming, he has taken the tractor wheel in his own hands. Busy with his main vocation, the actor had given the 17 acres of land he owned in Cheepungal, near Kumarakom in Kottayam district, on lease for paddy cultivation. This season onwards, he says, he will cultivate the paddy himself. Mammootty insists that his renewed interest in farming is not just a hobby or gimmick and reminds sceptics that he hails from a peasant family.
“When I leaarned about natural farming, I got interested,” he says. “This is very natural paddy cultivation by using only natural manure like green leaves, cow dung, etcetera.” Mammootty has no plans of turning to organic farming. He thinks it is not viable.
It was a pleasant surprise for Cheepungal locals when the superstar appeared on the farm last Wednesday in a traditional white dhoti, brown shirt and his favourite sunglasses. Appu, his childhood friend, and KM Hilal, a former Left-wing student leader and now a natural farming proponent, accompanied him to the paddy field. The actor drove the tractor and assisted the workers in transplanting the saplings. Mammootty, who has won the National Award for best actor three times, hopes he can inspire others to turn to natural farming. “For paddy, chemical fertilisers are absolutely unnecessary. Cow dung and cow urine are the best manure,” he says.
Mammootty is keen to protect varieties of paddy seeds that are diminishing due to chemicals and is seeking experts who can guide him. “Our ancestors had 3,000 such seeds and at present only 60 exist,” he says. “These seeds succumbed to pests and pesticides.”
Mammootty seems to have been inspired by the concept of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) popularised by agri-scientist Subhash Palekar. This promotes crop rotation, mechanical cultivation, biological pest control and green manure. Earlier, Malayalam actor- director Sreenivasan and director Sathyan Anthikkad were in the news too for similar agricultural ventures.
source: http://www.openthemagazine.com / OPEN Magazine / Home> Open> Regulars / by Shahina KK / July 23rd, 2013
Once upon a time, a queen lost her kingdom to a foreign invader. Under the terms of surrender, she was allowed to retain her title, inheritable by the seniormost member of the royal family. She was also assured an annual payment to maintain her standard of living. It was a generous sum back then. Then came the passage of time. Sovereigns vanished into history and elected governments came into existence. The royal family didn’t live happily ever after. Their annual pension, a fixed sum, was ravaged by inflation.
It began to look smaller and smaller, until it came to a point where it was not even as much as the monthly salary any of them earned.
And then the family decided to make a calculation. When they were first allotted that sum, how much gold could they have bought with it? And how much would that gold be worth today? This figure, they convinced themselves, was the sum that they should logically be getting.
And so they went to the government and asked for it. Else, they demanded their kingdom back. They will probably not get either.
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That, in short, is the story of the Arakkal family that once ruled the city of Cannanore (now Kannur) and Lakshadweep Islands, a reign that lasted five centuries. The trust that governs their affairs recently made the bizarre demand that the Indian government either raise their pension or return Lakshadweep.
I had to wait ten minutes after ringing the bell at the present queen’s residence in Talassery, a town 20 km away from Kannur. A huge house modelled on the original palace that is now a museum of history, it is as silent and empty as any other house along the Malabar coast whose members have left for greener pastures abroad. The queen has three sons, all working overseas, and one daughter. It is the daughter, who looks around 50, who opens the door and welcomes us in. She had been busy with her evening prayers and apologises for making us wait. She and her mother are the only two residents of this palatial house.
I am taken to the queen’s room, where the 92-year-old Sultan Arakkal Adi Raja Sainaba Aishabi, also known as Arakkal Beevi, reclines on a bed. More than three years ago, she had suffered a stroke and never fully recovered. But she welcomes me with a gladdening smile. I have to bend forward to catch the words of her broken voice.
“Journalists often come here,” she whispers, “though I am not well enough to talk. You may get sufficient information from my children. Please don’t forget to have tea and some food before you leave.”
I ask her whether she is aware of the Arakkal royal family trust’s demand. She answers with the same bright smile. It is her daughter who speaks. “She is too old to get into such headaches,” she says.
For centuries, the royal title has been passed along to the seniormost member of the family irrespective of gender. A male king would be called Ali Raja Adi Raja (‘lord of the sea’) and a female, Arakkal Beevi.
According to historians, the Arakkal Dynasty was Kerala’s only Muslim family of rulers. There is no consensus on their origins, but some say their assumption of power dates back to the 13th century.
According to a piece of local lore, the dynasty was founded by a minister of Kolathiri Raja (the then regional ruler) who converted to Islam and became a ruler.
Another says that the Arakkal royal family traces its lineage to Mohemmad Ali, a nephew of Cheraman Perumal (a regional ruler before the region split into different principalities) who is said to have embraced Islam. The only thing certain is that the Arakkal Dynasty had sovereign control of Cannanore that later extended to Lakshadweep islands off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea.
The arrival of European seafaring powers bolstered their kingdom’s trade and commerce. They had a love-hate relationship with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. According to Dr A Sreedhara Menon, a scholar on Kerala history, the Arakkal principality of power came to an end in 1790, the year in which St Angelo Fort of Cannanore was stormed by General Abercromby, the then British Army general. Locally known as Kannur Fort, it had been built in 1505 by the Portuguese; it was later owned by the Dutch, who then sold it to the Arakkal king for Rs 1 lakh. The fort is now a tourist destination. The East India Company later forced the then Arakkal Beevi into an agreement under which she had to give up control of Lakshadweep islands. She was allowed possession of Cannanore city, but deprived of any claim to sovereignty. The East India Company pensioned off the Arakkals the same way they did other local kings and chieftains in India.
By 1900, the family had lost every trace of power. In 1905, they had to make another agreement with the British giving up all sovereign claims on Cannanore and Lakshadweep. In return, they were entitled to receive an annual pension, termed malikhana, of Rs 23,000. This is a sum they still get, though from the Government of India, which took over the obligations of the departing British.
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On 10 July this year, a decision was taken at a meeting of the royal family trust to press the demand for a raise (or a return ‘surrender’ of their kingdom). “It is not the first time we have made this demand,” says Ali Raja Adi Raja Hameed Hussain, the eldest male member of the royal family. We are at a shop he has in Kannur, where he runs the family business of spice exports. He takes a bundle of papers off a wooden shelf to show us. The stack includes copies of representations submitted to Central and state ministers to raise their malikhana. “We have been demanding a reasonable hike for long,” he says, “This time we decided to make it public through the media.”
While that may be so, why they consider their demand reasonable remains a mystery. India, after all, is a democracy and there is nothing that entitles them to such a payment. “We need money because we want to continue the charity work which had been done by our ancestors,” says Hameed Hussain. But why demand public money for purposes of charity?
“Because we are descendants of a sovereign ruler,” replies Ali Raja Mohammed Rafi, younger son of Arakkal Beevi Sainaba Aishabi, who runs an advertising agency in the UAE. “As per the contract of 1905 with the English East India Company, we are entitled to receive an amount sufficient to maintain the standards of royal living.”
The agreement, a copy of which is with Open, reads: ‘The Government would pay to the Adi Raja and to his heirs and successors a Malikhana of Rs 23,000 per annum in equal monthly installments one half being paid to him during his life and after his death to the head of the family for the time being as a personal grant for the maintenance of his position and dignity and the other half being paid to him and to his heirs and successors as heads of the family.’
Mohemmad Rafi, who is the managing trustee of the royal trust, says that Rs 23,000 was a huge amount in 1905. If calculated in terms of gold, he says, it would have bought 64 kg of the metal in 1905. “Considering the value of gold [now], we should get around Rs 14 crore per annum,” claims Mohemmad Rafi. “We know that is not practically viable and so we are demanding only a reasonable hike in the annual pension.”
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This is not the Arakkals’ only family tussle over ancestral property. There is an ongoing dispute with another family of Muslim landowners, the Keyis, over 1.4 million Saudi riyals—about Rs 2.2 crore—said to be lying in the Saudi Arabian government’s treasury. The exact sum cannot be verified, though many believe it to be in the tune of Rs 90 crore. About 150 years ago, a member of the Keyi family, Mayinkutty, is said to have built a guesthouse in Mecca to accommodate Hajj pilgrims from Malabar. In 1971, the Saudi government demolished this structure as part of a development exercise, allotting 1.4 million riyals as compensation to be handed over to the Keyi heirs. At that point, the Arakkal royal family also staked claim to the amount on the grounds that Mayinkutty had married one of their members, Aychi Beevi. “It is beyond dispute that we are the legal heirs of Mayinkutty Keyi and have legitimate claim over that property,” says Mohemmad Rafi.
The Kerala government recently appointed an IAS officer, TO Suraj, to look into the matter and take a final decision. He says that neither family might have any right to it. “In my understanding, the property was dedicated to the Wakf for the welfare of pilgrims,” says Suraj, “The government is trying to attach the property [for use of] the Wakf Board by due process.”
Professor Rajan Gurukkal, a historian and former vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, thinks that would be ideal. “It should go to the government and be used for a public purpose,” he says. Gurukkal also thinks that the demand to raise the malikhana has no legal validity. Dr KKN Kurup, a historian of the Malabar region, author of a book on the Arakkal family’s history called Aliraja of Cannanore and former vice-chancellor of Calicut University, terms the demand “absolutely irrational”. He says there is no reason to spend public money on the upkeep of aristocracies and royalties of the past. “The malikhana was maintained primarily on the condition that they should be loyal to the English East India Company. How can they claim the same even after independence? Does it mean that the Arakkal family is still loyal to the British? What if all the heirs of rulers of princely states make similar demands?”
source: http://www.openthemagazine.com / OPEN Magazine / Home> Open> Feature / by Shahina KK / August 23rd, 2013
Participants interact at the heritage walk through the Walled City of Delhi on Saturday. / The Hindu
On International Women’s Day, a group of 23 heritage enthusiasts participated in a storytelling walk in the Walled City of Delhi. The walk created awareness about women who stood up for their rights and honour but have long been forgotten.
Barring two men, the rest of the participants were women who satiated their hunger for knowledge by frequently interrupting the host, an excellent raconteur.
Yuveka Singh, who conducted the walk and has experts on archaeology and history in her team, said the walk was conducted after methodical research work and interviewing women living in Old Delhi.
At 10 a.m., the group congregated at the Red Fort main gate. “The two-hour walk was an attempt to know a little more about some fascinating women who are more well known to some of the older residents of the Walled City. We spoke about Razia Sultana because she was far ahead of her times and involved in active politics even before she became the ruler. We wanted the participants, particularly women, to feel that they need to derive inspiration from women of the medieval period and speak up for their rights,” said Ms. Singh, a storytelling expert.
The first visit was to a dilapidated palace of an 18th Century nautch girl, who through her charisma and wit became the ruler of Sardhana.
The group had to pass through labyrinthine streets in the Bhagirath Palace area in Chandni Chowk but a look at the yellowish white edifice, which has nomenclature of erstwhile Lloyd’s Bank Ltd inscribed on it, made them scream with joy. The heritage building is one of the earliest colonial buildings with Greek pillars, which grace its front porch.
Begum Samru’s haveli was the first destination because she played a significant role in saving Delhiites from getting slaughtered by an invading force. “Our visit to Begum Samru’s haveli was a fruitful one as I was able to tell how this courtesan became a ruler of a principality near Meerut. And we also entered the haveli and saw the condition it is in,” said Ms. Singh.
The next destination was the famous Jain temple of Chandni Chowk. This was done to show the syncretic traditions of the Walled City, where Hindus and Muslims have lived peacefully for generations.
The walk concluded with a visit to the Fatehpuri Masjid.
During the walk, participants also learnt about the women in Shah Jahan’s life.
For history enthusiast Jahanara Rabia Raza, the walk gave her an insight into the lives of women who were brave, assertive and not willing to get subjugated by men. “Though I studied History at Delhi University and gave my papers on Razia Sultan, I did not know that the empress used to roam around after covering her countenance with a purdah and smoked hookah with men. She must have had guts to do all that during that period,” she said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Delhi / by Madhur Tankha / New Delhi – March 09th, 2014
ASI encourages residents in Mehrauli to preserve the 700-year-old pond
The Archaeological Survey of India has completed major restoration work at the neglected Shamsi Talab in Mehrauli. It has also encouraged the locals to take the initiative in preserving the pond for future generations.
An ASI Delhi Circle official said: “Over the years, unscrupulous residents have been dumping garbage into this pond. Dumping has led to ugly growth of vegetation. The ASI has set up a team of dedicated workers to clear 30,000 square metres of vegetation. The exercise at Shamsi Talab is now complete.”
Involving the locals in the upkeep of the pond was another objective of the ASI. “It was important to create awareness about the need to maintain Shamsi Talab, built by Sultan Shams-ud-din Iltutmish. Now the RWA has evinced interest in the pond and is already maintaining it,” said a senior ASI official.
Speaking to The Hindu , ASI Additional Director-General B. R. Mani said the objective was to preserve the “700-year-old pond”.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> New Delhi / by Madhur Tankha / New Delhi – December 02nd, 2013
The Central Reserve Police Force has now come up with a theme song penned by renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar, composed by Raju Singh and and sung by Javed Ali.
The song was released by President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations of India’s largest paramilitary force. Complimenting Javed Akhtar and the team for their creative effort in capturing through lyrics and composition the sentiments of the CRPF, Mr. Mukherjee said it would inspire each jawan of the force, the President added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> New Delhi / by Special Correspondent / New Delhi – March 04th, 2014
The former member of the U.P. Minorities Commission, Nasheed Ahmed Khan, will be the Samajwadi Party candidate from Rampur in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.
Rampur, situated in the Muslim-dominated Rohilkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, is Urban Development Minister Mohammad Azam Khan’s political backyard and the Samajwadi Party candidate is said to be of his choice.
Party president Mulayam Singh had authorised Mr. Azam Khan to take a final call on the candidate.
Mr. Nasheed Ahmed Khan’s candidature was declared by the party on Saturday. Rampur is among the 11 constituencies where polling would be held in the second phase on April 17.
With Mr. Khan’s nomination, the Samajwadi Party has declared the names of candidates for 78 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the State. Only Rae Bareli and Amethi remain.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the Rampur seat was won by Jaya Prada, who was fielded by Mr. Mulayam Singh despite opposition from Mr. Azam Khan.
Ms. Prada’s nomination from Rampur (she had won the seat for the SP in the 2004 Lok Sabha poll ) and former SP leader Amar Singh’s reported influence over the Samajwadi Party president was one of the factors for the rift between Mr. Mulayam Singh and Mr. Azam Khan. He was subsequently expelled from the party.
Things turned full circle when Mr. Amar Singh was expelled and Mr. Azam Khan made a return to the party.
Jaya Prada is likely to join the Congress and may be fielded from the neighbouring Moradabad.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Other States / by Atiq Khan / Lucknow – March 09th, 2014
Humayuns Tomb made news in 2010 when US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle were photographed here,staring at the monuments majestic elegance. On Thursday,the World Heritage Day,the Humayuns Tomb complex will return to make news again to announce the unveiling of its most attractive structure,Isa Khans Tomb,after a two-year-long restoration.
Isa Khans Tomb,part of UNESCO World Heritage Site of Humayuns Tomb,has a dome that resembles a plump inverted flower. But time and state negligence had robbed this flower of its beauty and fragrance. A 27-month-long conservation drive has attempted to infuse that lost beauty back into the tomb.
The restoration drive was jointly funded and undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the World Monuments Foundation,with help from the Archeological Survey of India. The project is part of a larger urban renewal project in Delhi that includes 50 monuments.
On Thursday,Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch will open Isa Khans Tomb to the public. Almost 2,000 school children will be taken there for a heritage walk and design workshops.
Isa Khan was a noble in the court of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th Century. Suri ruled Delhi between the reigns of Humayun and Akbar.
Isa Khans Tomb is a resplendent example of the concept of a garden tomb,which pervaded that era. It combines the garden and the grave,symbolic of life and death.
This tomb is the only historical monument in India which has been restored by a non-government body. A key official of the restoration project said other than returning the mausoleum its lost glory,the project has also successfully achieved its objective of imparting knowledge of traditional architecture and design to the craftsmen who worked on it.
We got them trained in making tiles in the Central Asian style,where the Mughal and Suri dynasties originated, he said.
Today,the Mughals are primarily associated with their taste for rich architecture the Indo-Persian school of architecture. But their love for fruity and floral plantations was legendary. Mughal monuments were designed in the centre of gardens primarily consisting citrus plantations. That same refreshing,tangy citrus scent will burst into the precincts of Isa Khans garden tomb again now with the generous re-plantation of this genus.
When restoration was underway in 2011 at this garden tomb,serendipity visited the project team. The monument suddenly had Indias oldest sunken garden. The official said,The idea was to align the tree top-level with the eye level,so that when one stands on the courtyard of the main structure,one sees a carpet of green,giving a sinking effect to the encircling vegetation.
For a monument to achieve the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status,its features must contain an outstanding universal value. The Humayuns Tomb complex made the cut because it is not just the mausoleum of the second Mughal emperor,but an ensemble of 16th Century garden tombs like Bu Halima,Batashewala,Neela Gumbad and others,besides Isa Khans tomb.
The restoration projects staff boasts of an inclusive approach undertaken while giving the garden tomb complex a makeover.
For us,the craftsmen were the projects centerpiece. We focused on the quality of work and not the traditional dihaari (daily wages) system. We also employed latest technology,like laser scanning and GPRS pointing,to fine tune things. Laser scanning helped to make an error-free structural assessment of the monument and GPRS pointing helped to locate underground archeology,if any,before we started work, the source said.
Revival of the Garden tomb
On World Heritage Day,Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch will open the Isa Khan Tomb to visitors,after a 2-year restoration drive
Isa Khan was a noble in the court of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th Century
His mausoleum is an example of the concept of garden tomb,which pervades that era. It combines the garden and the grave,symbolic of life and death
Dome resembling an inverted plump flower had weathered owing to time and negligence
Restoration jointly funded,and undertaken by Aga Khan trust for Culture and World Monuments Foundation,with help from ASI
It is the only historical monument in India restored by a non-government body
The project is part of a larger urban renewal project in Delhi which includes 50 monuments
For the project,craftsmen were trained in making tiles in the Central Asian style,where the Mughal and the Suri dynasties originated
Along with a crafts-based approach,latest technology,like laser scanning and GPRS pointing,was used to fine tune the work.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Delhi / by Ruchika Talwar / New Delhi / April 18th, 2013
Words are not enough to describe the feeling of utter amazement one feels as one steps into Safdurjungs Tomb. My first visit to this tomb aptly described as the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture was an unforgettable and enriching experience.
The mausoleum is surrounded by lush gardens in Mughal style. The interior of the tomb with Safdurjungs cenotaph has a mysterious,yet serene air about it. My friend and I stood there awed by the amazing architecture,utterly captivated by its peaceful charm.
Amidst the citys noises,there is this one place where you can be at peace. So when it was time to go,I didnt feel like leaving. One just cannot have enough of its beauty. I look forward to going there again. Id say its a must-visit place for its serenity and architectural value.
n Muskaan Sharma,XII-B
On April 9,our school organised a trip to Safdurjungs Tomb for the students of Class XII. I was very excited about the trip as Ive never been there. I did not know anything about Safdurjung so I thought he would be just another historic personality who would have fought many wars. When I arrived at the tomb,I was enthralled by the majestic monument with a white marble dome. It was surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. We were told the fountains dont work due to water shortage in the city. While walking up the steep steps of the monument,one could see the tomb in the centre of a vast hall. One just cant ignore the beautiful carving on the walls of the monument. We were told that Safdurjung was prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. Safdurjungs Tomb was inspired by the Taj Mahal and Humayuns Tomb. Although the tomb was undergoing renovation, it remained open for general public. It was truly an unforgettable trip. The hard work of the architects is evident in the intricate carvings inside the tomb. This place is definitely worth a visit.
n Chetan Jajodia,XII BCom. A
Described as the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture,Safdarjungs Tomb epitomises beauty and serenity. It was built by Shuja-ud-Daulah in memory of his father,Safdarjung,who served the Mughal Emperor Mohammed Shah as his prime minister. The garden tomb is characteristic of the Indo-Islamic architectural style. The central tomb is the main attraction of the complex. It has a huge dome which gives it an appearance of a maqbara. The walls of the tomb have fine and elaborate plaster carvings influenced by the pietra dura style. There are four water canals cutting across the garden to form a typical charbagh. Octagonal towers in the corners add more beauty to the central tomb. The garden is built in the Persian style and one can enter it through a gate with intricate Rajputana carvings on it. The whole tomb is made of red sandstone.
The way the Archaeological Survey of India has tried to preserve this monument is appreciable. But being responsible citizens of this country,we must also help protect and maintain our monuments. I am grateful to my school and The Indian Express for organising this heritage walk. It was truly an enlightening visit. This brush with history was an enriching one.
n Ananya Das,XII Sc A
Safdarjungs Tomb once you visit it,the mystique charm of the monument will remain with you for long. This tomb is considered the the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture in India. It was built for Safdarjung,the powerful prime minister of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. Safdarjungs son Shuja-ud-Daulah constructed it in 1754.The fact that the monument is an amalgam of different architectural styles ignited my interest. The tomb has influences of the Humayuns Tomb and the Red Fort in its design. As soon as I entered the monument,my eyes instinctively went up to the dome and I was mesmerised by the beautiful symmetrical designs. The dome seemed too high for someone to carry out such elaborate and perfect carvings. But the fact that it was done points to the mastery of the craftsmen in those days. The huge gardens,spacious balconies,corridors and the water canals fascinated me. The serene grave of Safdarjung reminded me of the spirit behind the construction of the monument a sons reverence,love and gratitude towards his father. The tomb also houses Shuja-ud-Daulahs wifes grave. The complex also included the three-domed mosque and three beautiful pavilions.
As we were got ready to leave,I turned again towards the tomb,wanting to get one last look of this magnificent structure. If only I could stand and stare a little longer.
n Apoorva singh,XII
You employ stone,wood and concrete,and with these materials you build houses and places,that is construction. But when you suddenly touch my heart,you do me good and make me say This is beautiful,that is architecture.
Life gets a fresh breath when history rises from its grave. It happened with me April 9,while we were counting our steps to Safdarjungs Tomb. The tomb built for Safdurjung,the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. It was built in 1754 in the Mughal style and is described as the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture. Today,its in a dilapidated condition,with cracks in the walls and the tombs walls turning yellowish grey from white. But though the tomb has lost its pristine beauty,it still gives a mystique feeling. The central tomb has a huge dome. There are four water canals leading to the four corners of the building one has an ornately decorated gateway while the other three corners have octagonal towers. The canals are four oblong tanks,one on each side of the tomb. On the whole,the tomb has been decorated with cheap material,pointing to the economic conditions of that time. But in spite of this,I realised that the people in those times were full of life.
n Gayatri Chetal,XII Com-B
After tolerating the chaos of Delhi roads on a daily basis,one longs for some quiet time in a serene place. Safdarjungs Tomb on Lodhi Road is one such place. It was built by Shuja-ud-Daulah after his fathers death in 1754. Safdarjungs Tomb is a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum. It was built in 1754 in the Mughal style. Its façade is decorated with elaborate plaster carvings. There are four water canals inside the tomb leading towards one ornately decorated gateway and three pavilions with octagonal towers. I would like to thank The Indian Express for giving us the opportunity to learn about our past.
n Harshita Kakar,XII Com-B
My visit to this incredible heritage site was fascinating experience. The Safdarjungs Tomb was constructed by Shuja-ud-Daulah for his father Safdarjung who was the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. The main entrance is a huge decorated gate with arrow silts. The tomb stands majestically surrounded by verdant lawns. The amalgamation of the Indo-Islamic and Hindu styles for the construction of the tomb is highly appreciable. It consists of chattris,minarets and cosmic signs. The way the Archeological Survey of India has tried to preserve the Safdarjungs Tomb is commendable. I express my heartiest thanks to The Indian Express for giving me a chance to visit this historical place.
n Kashish Chaurasia,XII Com B
Safdarjungs Tomb was built in 1754 by Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah,the son of Safdarjung Mirza Muqim Abul Mausum Khan,the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. Safdarjungs Tomb is a beautiful mausoleum and is counted as a major heritage site in India. It is described as the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture because it reflects the last phase of Mughal architecture. The tomb is enclosed by a tall wall and can be entered through an imposing gateway. There are large pleasant gardens with elegant palm tree-lined paths surrounding it. We could see the remains of the water courses and fountains which had divided the garden up into four squares. The pavilions on the wall are run down and are now used for storage. The tomb stands on a high terrace in the centre of the enclosure. It is a solid square structure built of highly decorated red sandstone with a central marble dome. Apart from Safdarjungs grave,there is another grave here,that of the wife of Shuja-ud-Daulah. The chambers in the room are surrounded by eight rooms. All the apartments are rectangular in shape except the corner ones that are octagonal in shape.The central chamber is beautifully carved and surrounded by rhombic compartments. The mosque,built in red sandstone on the second storey,was added later.
Safdarjungs Tomb is a quiet haven in the middle of the citys din. The tomb is similar to Humayuns Tomb in its architecture. The environment around the tomb is extremely calming and to visit such a beautiful place is a refreshing experience.
n Namrata Das,XII Sc A
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Delhi / by Express News Service / April 22nd, 2013
