Neglected and forgotten: The sorry state of Jahanara’s tomb
The family further maintained that due to paucity of funds, maintaining the monument was turning out to be an uphill task.
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Jahanara Begum’s tomb in Nizamuddin Dargah. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)
Enclosed within carved marble screens in the Nizamuddin Dargah courtyard lies the remains of Mughal princess Jahanara Begum, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan. Even as thousands flock to the shrine of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, this tiny enclosure hardly seems to draw any crowd. Each event, ranging from festivals to performances, brings with it the added burden of litter. Much of it ends up at the tomb of the princess who was responsible for designing Chandni Chowk in the Walled City.
According to the Nizami family, which oversees the day-to-day functioning of the dargah, the upkeep of Jahanara’s tomb — which dates back to the seventeenth century — falls under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “It is an ASI protected monument. We cannot make any changes, construction or repair work in that part. The ASI has hired guards and cleaners but they have failed to maintain the monument,” Syed Gowhar Nizami said.
The family further maintained that due to paucity of funds, maintaining the monument was turning out to be an uphill task. “We have a team of 12 people to clean the entire complex twice every day. Maintenance of monuments require a lot of money. We do not have the resources to employ more people. During periods when footfalls increase, there is a lot of wear and tear of the structure,” Nizami added.
ASI officials maintained that guards employed at monuments are only responsible for informing the heritage authority about encroachments. “There is a separate team of workers who look into maintenance of monuments. We do not have information about the present condition of this particular monument. We will be in a position to do so on Monday. The guards only give us information about any encroachment,” Rakesh Tewari, Director General of ASI, said.
With no clarity on the authority responsible for maintaining the monument, Jahanara’s grave is strewn not just with flower petals but other discarded worship material as well. The tomb’s entry is partially blocked with overhanging wires and has become a resting place for pilgrims thronging the shrine.
“Most people who visit the dargah pay respects to Hazrat Nizamuddin and Amir Khusro. Apart from 10 per cent of visitors who are interested in the history of the place, people are not even aware of the existence of this tomb,” Nizami said.
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