Reviving Dara’s legacy

For all his grand interfaith project,he is today an orphan of history. Not many are aware of the library he built in 1637 AD,which now stands on the campus of Indraprastha University at Kashmere Gate.

The Dara Shikoh library has been a British residency,a government college and a municipal board school,and now houses the state department of archaeology — a mark of a rich legacy getting buried in history. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has submitted a proposal to the Delhi government to conserve the library and develop a museum there. A government official says the proposal is being considered.

The proposal seeks restoration of the Mughal period arches,which were altered when the building was put to different uses. According to INTACH,there are some remains of the original structure,especially on the northern side.

A series of columns and arches on the lower level could be the Qutub Khana,which originally had a collection of Dara Shikoh’s books and manuscripts. False ceilings and layers of whitewash also need to be removed.

INTACH has suggested elaborate plans for building a museum. “Delhi needs a city museum,and we should work towards bridging the gap between past and present through this,” says Prof A G K Menon,the convenor of INTACH’s Delhi chapter.

INTACH has also proposed a display of culture and heritage through images,paintings,audio-visual and reconstruction of history through light-and-sound shows.

The museum will have models of historical structures in the city.

A display of lives of eminent Delhi women such as Razia Sultan,Shah Turkan,Matia Begum,Kamla Nehru and Aruna Asaf Ali has been proposed. The museum can also have games and interactive features for children.