Qudsiya8217;s Nightmare

During the declining years of the Mughal empire, Muhammad Shah 8216;Rangila8217;, the Emperor, was the archetypal pleasure seeker who was ...

During the declining years of the Mughal empire, Muhammad Shah 8216;Rangila8217;, the Emperor, was the archetypal pleasure seeker who was impervious to the imminent destruction of the Mughal rule. Flitting around in his palace was Qudsiya Begum, a young dancing girl who caught his fancy and became the mother of Ahmad Shah who succeeded to the throne at the death of his father.

It was then that she developed a relationship with Jawid Khan, earlier the chief eunuch in Muhammad Shah8217;s palace, but now very powerful because of his hold over Ahmad Shah. Qudsiya and Jawid Khan together built the Sonheri Masjid in 1751, a mosque of elegant proportions which is in a secluded part of Qudsiya Gardens in Delhi, close to the Maiden8217;s Hotel.

An inscription on the central arch of the masjid reveals that 8220;Nawwab Qudsi, of divine dignity, built this mosque; may the common favour of that place of adoration of angels be everlasting8221;. There is also an exquisite gateway close to the mosque, presumably made by Qudsiya as it is named after her.

A heavy irony hangs around the two edifices for like everything else in life, nothing is ever 8216;everlasting8217;. But let me pause and retreat a bit. Time inevitably takes its natural toll on all matter. Mankind either precipitates the destruction, or, if concerned and sensitive, eases the pace of deterioration, with an attempt to make the meaningful and the invaluable last as long as possible.

There is yet another perception that exists in our country, especially with our so-called custodians of heritage. They paradoxically enough, help time accelerate its pace by the kind of 8216;conservation8217; they indulge in.

Some months ago, the Archaeological Survey of India ASI stated in the newspapers that they would give Qudsiya8217;s gateway its 8216;former glory8217; within three months.

What was its former glory, I wonder, as there is no real evidence of what it looked like when it was made. Moreover, 8216;former glory8217; is not feasible. I wish we would stop saying it and really understand the situation.

Because of the repercussions of time, lack of evidence, a total absence of scientific expertise and historical awareness, we should not even try to return highly damaged buildings to their 8216;former glory8217;.

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What we need to do is to concentrate on the inner stability and preservation of these structures and not on their superficial appearance. Unfortunately, the superficial appearance is what our custodians concentrate on.

This approach has the advantage of being quick hence, the three months and easy to handle as masons do the job whereas everywhere else in the world conservators are active participants. The ASI does everything according to a set formula regardless of the age, history, century or style of built heritage. Cement and whitewash are the major weapons. Any original fragment that has dislodged from the main structure is hardly ever used again and is replaced by a crude imitation whereas all trained conservators realise the importance of what is original.

Let the Qudsiya gateway images speak for themselves.