Back in time: ASI uses age-old techniques to conserve

A mixture of lime and several indigenous ingredients like urad dal,the juice of bel and tobacco,jaggery and gum from the acacia tree,is being used for coating and plastering.

Surkhi,made of powdering bricks,Badarpur sand and stones like Delhi quartz are being used for reinforcing and restoring the walls,said K K Muhammed,superintending archaeologist,Delhi Circle,ASI.

“Around 46 monuments are being given a facelift for the CWG and we are trying to use traditional methods of conservation. At present,work is on at Kashmere Gate,Satpula in Khirki Village,Sher Shah Gate,Dadi Poti tombs in Hauz Khas,Delhi Gate,Safdarjung tomb,Najaf Khan Tomb and a few others. Some monuments like the Chhoti Gumti and Shakri Gumti have already been restored,” Muhammed said.

This traditional mixture is believed to have been used in ancient monuments,which have withstood the ravages of centuries. “Lime,as opposed to cement,lasts much longer. It is soaked in water for nearly a fortnight and when its heat is released completely,lime gets its full binding strength. Lime,however,takes more time to settle compared to cement. Cement starts settling in four to six hours. Lime takes nearly 21 days but lasts much longer than cement,” an ASI official said.

“Most Mughal buildings have lasted several centuries because of the traditional methods that were used. We are trying to recreate the same mixtures to conserve these monuments.”

Urad dal powder is used for waterproofing the roofs while natural adhesives like gum from acacia trees and jaggery is used for binding the mixture.

“Conservation is done in three stages,one layer after another. Usually for fine plastering,marble dust,jaggery and malai are used in the last finishing layer,” said an ASI official working on the Safdarjung Tomb conservation project.

To fine-tune the skills of workers,experts from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and senior retired ASI officials will conduct a lime workshop for the present ASI officials from November 9 to 13.

“This is a regular feature where AKTC experts and retired officials conduct sessions for ASI men from across the country,” said an ASI official.