Ulema raising voice on Indian Muslims' issues but not the educated elite and Muslim politicians

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All of a sudden thousands of Muslim students preparing for medical entrance examination suffered a jolt when they found that Urdu would no longer be medium of exam in the National Eligibility Entrance Test [NEET] which is held for admission into MBBS.

There are thousands of Urdu medium schools and colleges in Maharashtra apart from large number of Urdu medium students aspiring for the MBBS-BDS and allied medical course test from Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh et al.

With their future in jeopardy and national media or political leadership showing no interest [not even aware of the extent of the problem], the Ulema who are seen as 'regressive', raised the issue. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court in this regard.

The Supreme Court subsequently issued notice to Ministry of Human Resources Development [MHRD], CBSE and Medical Council of India [MCI] on this issue. While Marathi medium students in junior colleges aspiring for exam is barely 350, Urdu students in Maharashtra's junior colleges number over 7,500.

Still, while Marathi remained a medium, Urdu was excluded arbitrarily. To understand the gravity of the situation and a sudden discriminatory order that affects democratic rights as well as causes children to suffer, one expects the so-called Muslim leaders viz. political leadership to move forward.

But nothing of that sort happened. The MCI rules clearly state that they couldn't disturb state policies as per which many regional languages other than English and Hindi are used as medium in entrance exam. When action had to be taken fast, once again Jamiat-i-Ulama realised the seriousness of the situation.

One will have to wait and see what happens, but the irony is that when educated elite is expected to act, they don't. In fact, they are least aware of real issues pertaining to Muslims. Ulema who get lot of blame often do their best in terms of PR skills as well [not the socialites, chatterati appearing on TV shows, paying lip service to Muslims]

TAKING STAND ON CIVIL RIGHTS

There are repeated examples. Can one forget the failure of Muslim politicians to address defaming of towns like Azamgarh turned Aatankgarh? It was then that the Ulema had boarded an entire train and had gone to Hyderabad to hold Anti-Terrorism Conference, denouncing the terrorists and making clear their stand.

Nobody had put onus on them. They did on their own. Such conferences were held across country. The Ulema are also involved in charity and welfare. They are also fighting dozens of cases in which innocent Muslim youths were falsely implicated.

The legal aid is being provided to these detainees about whom none among our political leadership paid attention. They were languishing in jails for years.

In many cases people couldn't come out of jail where they are lodged for minor offences just because they didn't have basic money to hire lawyer or to pay for the bail.

ULEMA SPEAK, NOT ELITE

Routinely, in cases of police excesses during riots or against individuals or even negative portrayal of Muslims, Ulema approach courts. Its satisfying to see institutional clergy being sensitive to the community and for its rights. The Indian Ulema [also Ulama] are secular to the hilt and most of them vouch for communal harmony and composite culture.

Perennially, it is the Ulema who keep approaching Prime Minister or Home Minister or the Minister for Minorities' Welfare, taking along delegations, speaking over various issues that keep coming up during the course of a year, seeking redressal of the issues.

The clergy also has the conviction to take politicians head-on. The recent example is that of Shia cleric Kalb-e-Sadiq who refused to be felicitated from UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, just two days back. Sadiq was upset because he felt SP hadn't fulfilled its promises made to Muslims.

In contrast, the 'elite' would be too happy to shake hand with a minister, and would come back with 'assurances', rather than a hard bargain. It is really a piquant situation. Now there is a strong Muslim middle-class in this country.

There are almost 60 minority Members of Parliament (MPs) in both the houses viz. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha but they fail to even take up these issues. One doesn't expect them to represent just Muslims but once in a while, they should take stand in important matters.

The educated elite is simply out of touch. For them, these are issues that often reach them through media and they simply express their disgust and move ahead. No wonder, the issues that don't get highlighted in mainstream English media, is reported in Urdu papers and then Ulema respond to them.

So the problem remains same after decades. Our elected representatives or those amongst us who have prospered fail to even understand, let alone take action, the real issues. Hence, the clergy is filling this void throughout the country.

When Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra was burnt and dug, his mortal remains set afire but Taj Mahal survived the raids by a whisker: Agra Travelogue, part-6

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That Taj Mahal was robbed and precious valuables were taken away is well-known but not many know how the monument got saved by a whisker in the eighteenth century.

Close to Agra, the Sikandra tomb was burnt down. Even today you can see signs of fire on the walls of the tomb of Akbar, though Lord Curzon had got it repaired to some extent. Such was the Jat fury that even the mighty Akbar’s tomb was dug and former emperor’s bones were brought out and set afire. See Link.

Taj Mahal was lucky that it was not harmed as much, though it was robbed* and valuables extracted [and taken away]. The Taj was stuffed with hay [bhusa] See link. Under Raja Ram, the Jats had become a major force.

Manucci wrote how Jat soldiers desecrated the grave, dug out the bones of emperor and set them afire to avenge the death of their past chieftain Gokala Jat. The raids or the 'chhapa-maar hamla' tactics were effective and the weak Mughal forces here failed to stop the onslaught.

It all happened the period after Mughal empire had begun weakening post the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. The Jats and Marathas were now the new powers of the land. 

In later years [after Raja Ram], Suraj Mal emerged as one of the most important figures of the era. The Jats are a martial race. The valuables in Deeg, the capital of Suraj Mal, are still shown proudly. There is no attempt to change history either.

The story of how the Taj Mahal survived miraculously

With the decline of Mughal power, the Jats made repeated attacks on Agra. They often plundered and looted villages here.  Later, the Jat army attacked Agra and even managed to capture the fort.  

This happened after 1761. Agra was now in the hands of Suraj Mal. It was then that they robbed valuables from the Taj Mahal also. The ornaments looted from here were taken to Dig, the Jat capital, where you still see them in Jal Mahal, on proud display. 

Maharaja Suraj Mal

In the book, ‘In the shadow of the Taj: A portrait of Agra’, Royina Grewal writes:

..the Mughal empire slid into steady decline. North India, and with it, Agra, was plunged into a continued insecurity as ambitious marauders, lured by the imperial treasuries held at the Fort, strove to establish control.

 Finally, Suraj Mal, legendary leader of the martial Jats from nearby Bharatpur attacked Agra. Jat soldiers camped at the Taj Mahal, lit fires inside the mausoleum to keep themselves warm and made off with its silver gates and finest gems….

There were two silver gates at the entrance of the Taj Mahal. They were looted and taken away by the Jat renegades. Also, a heavily ornamented precious gate was taken away from Agra Fort. The City was plundered and Taj Mahal was looted. See link

Umpteen writers have mentioned it at length. But K Natwar Singh only briefly mentioned the incident about ‘Rajpurohit’s order in his book on Maharaja Suraj Mal’.

But old books and even Urdu texts mention that it was Suraj Mal’s decision that saved Taj.But that’s just one aspect of the story. 

Those were turbulent times indeed and words like ‘Jaat-gardi’ became part of language and are now part of history books. 

Maharaja Suraj Mal was a man of strong character. Those who called him 'Suraj Mal Jat’ do injustice to it. 

The story which is often forgotten is that after hay was stuffed into Taj Mahal, a high priest asked the king to set it afire or turn the building into something else. But Maharaja Suraj Mal refused. He admired the beauty of the Taj. Yes, ornaments were taken away but Taj Mahal was saved. 

Emperor Shah Jahan

The toughest time for the monument was during the era from early 18^th century [1707 onwards] to mid-19^th century [till decades after 1857].

In his book, author Stephen P Blake writes about the turn of events and the desecration of mausoleum in these words:  “Jats….@&*# (sic) increased their attacks on Agra pillaged Akbar’s tomb near Agra..”

Much later, there was British plan [Bentick’s] to break the marble monument and auction it [all its gems and riches]. However, the tomb has survived. 

The risk to Taj is due to depleting water levels of Yamuna river and environmental factors, particularly, the pollution level in Agra. Fortunately, there are steps being taken in this direction.

Even a dam is likely to be built to keep water in the Yamuna, so as to keep its special foundation [that will remain intact as long as there is water in the river] firm, for centuries to come. This was the sixth part of the travelogue which focused on how Taj got saved by a whisker. 

The initial five parts of this travelogue can be read here:

Part 1 [Travel guide, tip, suggestions for foreign and domestic visitors]
Part 2 [Mysteries & Secrets of Taj Mahal]
Part 3 [Have you seen finial of Taj, do you know its taller than Qutab Minar?]
Part 4 [Inside Taj: Seeing replicas of graves, entry to original graves now blocked]

Part 5 [The rarely seen magnificent view from the other side of Yamuna & Mythical story about plan to build a black Taj Mahal]

The rarely seen magnificent view of Taj Mahal from other side of Jamuna and Mythical story of the Black Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal Travelogue Part-5

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Frankly, I had never seen this view of Taj Mahal in any photograph. No one had told me about the view from across the Jamuna. While the normal visitor goes to Taj Mahal and returns after seeing the breathtaking [but basic] view, he doesn’t often realize that there is another site from where you can see Taj in its complete glory—on a vast canvas, without any interruption or building in between.

In fact, after getting the ticket, a visitor has to first go through the gate where you are frisked, and then walk straight until you get past the main entrance gate, and only then you see the mausoleum directly. As a result, you don’t have the grand view of the expanse of the entire Taj Mahal’s structure.

On the other hand, from Mahtab Bagh, you can see the marble monument and its adjoining symmetric red stone structures, without any obstruction. It is really a breathtaking view. We may also have returned like numerous others from Agra after a normal visit.

Fortunately, when we visited Taj Mahal, we noticed movement of people on the other side of the river. We were told that some people visit there to take a photograph. Sorry, what? The guide didn’t tell us anymore.

But next day we did enquire a bit.

Ruins in Mahtab Bagh have nothing to do with foundation of 'Black Taj' 

Also, a taxi-wala sensed our extra interest in the monument.

‘Aap Mehtab Bagh nahi chalenge’ [Won’t you visit Mehtab Bagh], he asked in Urdu.

Soon we were on way to the other side of the river. We entered the old city, crossed the bridge, and in no time, reached the vast garden.

Though it was noon, still, the weather wasn’t as harsh. [Do visit early in the morning if its summer]. But once inside, we saw the most spectacular sight. This view we hadn’t seen before and it was indescribable feeling. Our Agra visit was now complete.

We felt that now we had seen the Taj. The only wish was to see it in moonlight. So what is Mehtab Bagh? Babar had come to Agra, soon after his victory in the battle of Panipat in 1526. To him, the weather in Agra was extremely hot and harsh. He recalled the greenery, the cascades and fountains.

On lines of the gardens in Samarkand, he got similar gardens [baagh] laid out on the Eastern side of Jamuna. Many such gardens came into existence here near the Agra Fort and one of them was the Bagh-i-Hasht Bihisht.

The area has a mosque from the era which has Humayun’s inscription and it survives to this day. It was here that Babar's son Humayun built his observatory, which also exists and is now known as 'Gyaarah Seedhi' or Eleven Stairs.

So the ruins of this 'baagh' existed for long. Akbar had later given the large site on both sides of Joon [now Jamuna] to Raja Man Singh. Shah Jehan had later bought the land here from Man Singh's descendant Raja Jai Singh. Four havelis were given to him and in lieu of that the land was obtained.

Almost at the same site where Bagh-i-Hasht Bihisht once existed, the Mehtab Bagh or Chandni Bagh was now built. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) board here says that the Mahtab Bagh is laid out in perfect symmetry and alignment with the Taj Mahal.

There were barahdaris [open, arcaded pavilions] and 'banglas' [pavilions] interconnected with corridors, made of sandstone, in this vast garden. They later fell. There were 25 fountains here. The large pond here sent water to these fountains through pipes.

The waterworks were amazing but were destroyed over the years. It was built as part of the original plan of the entire mausoleum complex. Perhaps, it was named Mehtab Bagh [Mehtab in Urdu means moon] because it is the ideal place to see Taj in moonlight.

The Chini-khana had candles and flowers to create a magical environment. Over the years the structure crumbled. The flood and the sand that came with the flow of water in Jamuna [Yamuna] covered this site. People forgot this place.

Over the last couple of years, ASI has been trying really hard to restore it. The garden is looked after well. It has 8,000 trees and plants now. There are policemen keeping vigil and the view of Taj from here is simply amazing.

The story about the ‘Black Taj Mahal’

Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, when Shah Jehan was camping in Burhanpur. She was buried in Zainabad on the banks of river Tapti in today's Burhanpur district in Madhya Pradesh.

After crushing the opponent, Shah Jahan got the body interred and it was later buried in Taj Mahal in Agra. There is a story often heard that Shah Jehan planned to build an exactly similar black Taj Mahal. There is no basis to this story.

That canards and conspiracy theories are enjoyed and believed by a large setion [because they want to believe something astounding] is well known. It's an interesting thought. In fact, imaginary photographs or models of black Taj on the other side of Yamuna river, as created by artists or through photo editing softwares, looks scary.

When the forgotten Mahtab Bagh [there will be a separate post in the next part on it], was redisovered and people began visiting it, the remnants of the structure gave people a hint that perhaps it was the foundation of the black mausoleum. The excavation at the site of Mahtab Bagh also showed no such plan or foundation.

Anyway, Shah Jahan had almost emptied his treasury in building the Taj Mahal. There was no further plan. He spent last years of his life, imprisoned in the Red Fort, after Aurangzeb acquired the throne. The story of the second Taj is a mere fantasy.

Isn't it now among the longest running travel series account that centres on Taj Mahal, at least, among online travelogues!

The earlier parts of this travelogue can be read here:

Part 1 [Travel guide, tip, suggestions for foreign and domestic visitors]
Part 2 [Mysteries & Secrets of Taj Mahal]
Part 3 [Have you seen finial of Taj, do you know its taller than Qutab Minar?]
Part 4 [Inside Taj: Seeing replicas of graves, entry to original graves now blocked]

Inside Taj Mahal: Seeing replica of Shah Jahan-Mumtaz Mahal's graves as entry to original 'mazaars' blocked: My journey to Agra, travelogue Part-4

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Seeing the Taj Mahal in photographs or movies you can never imagine its grandeur until you see it in front of you. The mausoleum totally overwhelms the visitor with its imposing structure and majestic beauty.

After the first glimpse of Taj Mahal and the tips for travellers, the optical illusions, mysteries and secrets of the mausoleum and the unique facts about the tomb's pinnacle, this is the fourth part of the travelogue in which I'd focus on the the final resting place of Shahjehan and Mumtaz Mahal--their graves inside the Taj.

At the gate, there was a board on which it was written that photography is not allowed once we step inside the tomb. Till now, I had clicked enough photographs on the premises, platform and around this masterpiece of world heritage, marvelling its beauty and architecture.

In the central octagonal room, one could see the graves through the marble screen [jaali]. However, these are not real graves but decorative ones. Surprised. How can that be? As per Islamic tradition, the 'qabr' or grave has to be below the ground--buried in the earth below. [Arrey bhai, qabr zameen ke niche hi hoti hai.]

Naturally, the graves couldn't be up there at such a height. This is the reason that the original graves are at the lower chamber, the entry to which was stopped some years ago. The imitative graves are similar to the real sarcophagi located in the basement.

The dimensions are same but not the craftsmanship. Though there is lot of security but when you see people still writing their names and making graffiti on the milky marble--damaging the structure, without any concern for our national heritage, you feel that restrictions are necessary.

At the Humanyun's Tomb [Humayun was Shahjehan's ancestor, great grandfather to be precise] in Delhi, which was built long before Taj Mahal, there is similar arrangement at the sarcophagus--decorative grave at ground floor, real grave in lower storey [underground chamber].

Due to these cenotaphs in the middle of the upper chamber, those walking around won't have their feet over the real graves. So there is no disrespect to the graves that are directly below this chamber. In the upper chamber, where visitors are allowed, you see light filtering out through screens and glasses.

The final resting place of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

Shah Jehan was later buried here and hence his grave is situated a bit towards the left.

As usual, the graves of male and female can be distinguished when you see the top of the 'qabr'. Shah Jehan's has a 'qalamdan' [pencase or quill box] on  it.

In Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) book on Taj Mahal, the royal sarcophagi is mentioned in these words:

"...The arches of this central octagonal hall amidst which lies the exquisite eight side marble network, are made of the finest marble. In fact, so chaste that when the rays of light scooping through the double perforated marble screens fall on it, a sort of miracle occurs, because it seems that this marble has been thinly coated with sang-i-tila or gold stone, the precious particles of which have been set in its smooth texture", writes Dr WH Siddiqui, the former Director of ASI.

"The front of arches apart from masterly calligraphy comprising quotations from Holy Quran are embellished with the most gorgeous ornamentation in the form of plants, bouquets, buds opening and closing, blossoms partly blown or in full bloom, and leaves bent by the breeze. They are so natural and true to life that unless observed closely it is difficult to discern that they are composed of pieces of precious stones so firmly and elegantly embedded in the marble".

"It is amazing but true that an ornamented marble panel depicting a bouquet of flowers contains several hundred pieces to form the mosaic work, and in a single flower there may be as many as fifty pieces of valuable stones of bright and natural colours, what is more, these pieces are closely and accurately embedded that it is impossible to pass a needle in the parting", the book further says.

The real graves in the lower chamber of the tomb

There is a lot to see once you are inside the tomb but you should have the eye to note the intricate details.

Always remember that when you get inside such structures, have a look at the ceiling, you must have the eye for details, the inquisitiveness of a traveller and must ask the guide about the artwork.

Surprisingly, here also the visitors were throwing coins--at the mazaars!

The then Emperor of Hindustan who commanded unprecedented wealth must not have ever imagined that a few centuries later people would throw metal coins at his 'qabr'.


In fact, there is Urs also in memory of Shah Jehan, just like Sufi saints' are remembered and the Urs is held to mark their anniversaries. Once a while, a person tries to take a snap of the graves inside the Taj, but the security personnel inside are alert and immediately stop them from photography.

More about Mausoleum

There are interesting aspects about the reflection of light and the sound affects inside the tomb. You may spot   the signature of the master calligrapher, in case, the guide tells you and if you can read a bit of Perso-Arabic [Urdu script]. You may as well find the word 'Bhola' written in devanagari somewhere there.

There is the story about the lamp, a gift from the British lieutenant governor who visited the tomb in 1909 and many other tales. We have skipped a lot including the death of Mumtaz, how she had died and buried first in Burhanpur and later the body was brought and buried here.

Exquisite art, workmanship at Taj amazes even after 400 years

We haven't even talked about the Char Bagh garden, the mosque, the Basai tower, the turrets, the waterworks--all that formed part of this mausoleum complex which was made on lines of a paradise for Mumtaz Mahal on earth, before her final destination--the heavenly paradise.

I have earlier mentioned a few of the illusions in the structure but I forgot to write about the optical trick about Taj's size when you see it from the main gateway--its getting bigger suddenly in a matter of few steps.

But the travelogue continues. Next on when Taj was just saved by a whisker.

Shah Jehan [formerly Prince Khurram] birth 1592, death 1666
Mumtaz Mahal [formerly Arjuman Ara Begum] birth 1593, death 1631 

[Taj Maha's construction began in 1631, completed in 1653]

Earlier parts of this travelogue on my recent visit to Agra
1. First glimpse of Taj Mahal: Suggestions, Top Ten Tips and Advisory if you are planning to visit Agra
2. Mysteries, Secrets and Little-known facts about Taj Mahal
3. Have you seen the finial on the Taj's dome, know its height? Taj Mahal taller than Qutub Minar.

Have you seen the pinnacle on the top of Taj Mahal's dome, know its height! My trip to Agra, travelogue Part-3

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If you have seen the Taj Mahal, have your ever paid attention to the pinnacle [finial] on top of this magnificent monument's dome?

The finial is more than 30 feet high [surprised!] though the height at which it stands, makes it appear smaller to us.

In fact, if you walk on the platform of Taj Mahal, you will see the exact shape of the drawing of this finial made on the floor just on the right side of Taj [towards jamat-khana].

It is because of this brass finial [weighing nearly 4/5th of a tonne] that the height of Taj Mahal is slightly more than the Qutub Minar, as I mentioned in the second part of this travelogue.

However, because Taj is a wide structure, one doesn't immediately get a feeling that it is so high. The exact height of Taj Mahal's pinnacle [up to finial tip] is a little over 73 m above the garden or ground.

This is up to the pinnacle on the top of the dome that is higher than its four corner minarets. The height of Qutab Minar is 72.5 metres.If you look closely you will find 'iron rings' on the entire dome. You will have to make an effort to locate them.

But do you know how big are they? Large enough for a labourer to sit. Each of them is around 1 feet though due to the imposing structure when you look from the ground, you feel that they are much smaller.

Design of the finial on top of the dome, is drawn on the floor of Taj Mahal.

In fact, when the ASI gets the dome cleaned, it is these iron rings which are used by workers engaged in the restoration job, to go upwards and do the cleaning.

You must have heard the Taj looks different at different hours of the day.

It is said that it reflects pinkish huge in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden in moon light.

Indeed, Taj changes colours with the day--the effect of sunlight and the river.

Inside the Taj Mahal, one can see the real effect of the mosaic of semi-precious stones.

The mosaics are created with tiny coloured stones set into marble.

The artisans shaped them with great precision and skill.

The flowers are carved into marble, creating the space for setting a precious stone. After delicate correction, the stones are set in with the use of glue. These precious inlays sparkle.

Earlier guides would throw light on the gems and these semi-precious stones would emit light, for example: red shining like bright ruby.

One of the minarets of the Taj Mahal

Twenty eight different type of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into sang-e-marmar [white marble] to build this magnificent octagonal tomb.

Its not just the delicate carvings that surprise visitors to the mausoleum, but there are other aspects too.

Optical Illusions, sense of proportion

There is enough of Optical Illusion in Taj Mahal's construction. Stand anywhere and look at the Arabic calligraphy--the verses from the Holy Quran inscribed on the walls.

The size of the Arabic alphabets look the same all along the vertical height.

Imagine how the letters written in the line visible in front of you look the same size as the one on a height of nearly 25 metres!

This amazing feat was achieved by the extraordinary calligrapher Amanat Ali Khan Shirazi.

Shirazi somehow knew how the size of words had to be increased gradually so that the normal human eye the font is same for the lower line as well as the topmost line.

One can only marvel at his understanding of angles and how human eye functions apart from the finesse in calligraphy.

This master craftsmanship--combination of science and art to achieve the perspective and proportion of balance is one of the major reason that Taj Mahal is unrivalled and unparalleled. It is a monument that stuns even those who have more scientific bent of mind but have little aesthetic interest.

Inspiration for the tomb

Letters in front of your eye are as readable as the ones at the top!

The architects, designers of Taj Mahal, achieved absolute perfection in almost everything they accomplished.

More optical illusions continue as you see the building and the four minarets. The inspiration for the Taj Mahal came from four different 'maqbaras'.

First, Hoshang Shah's tomb in Mandu [Malwa, MP], Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanaan's tomb in Delhi, Humayun's mausoleum and Itimad-ud-Daula's tomb in Agra.

The finest and best of all was combined and the minarets added when Ustad Isa made the layout plan.

The central dome is called Gumbad-i-Amroodi because of its shape. The four minarets are shorter than the middle dome.

The Four minarets of the Taj Mahal

Interestingly, the Taj's minarets have a feature that distinguishes it from other towers or minarets of the era.

In Taj, minaret's third story is the tallest. But the middle-one is shortest. As a result, when you see them, you feel the minarets have three storeys of equal proportions.

Hence, the top most storey doesn't look smaller. The staircases are closed for years now and one can't go to the top of these minarets.

Apart from calligraphy, there are abstract geometric elements and floral motifs that decorate the structure.

If you look at the walls of the building, you will see the patterns that create an illusion.

You feel that that there six or more sides but when you touch the marble, you realise that there are just three faces.

In fact, the patterns are such that without touching the walls you can't figure out the number of facets of a corner.

There is no dearth of fascinating facts, architectural and structural fine points about the Taj Mahal. After all, its not for nothing that Taj is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. [Thanks to Agraonline.co.in for the inset photo of the finial]

Hats off to Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Mir Abdul Karim, the two main architects behind the building of this magnificent structure. This was third in the series of posts after the First part that was about first view and tips for a visitor, second part that focused on the Secrets and mysteries of the monument.

This long series on Agra travelogue continues. If you have enjoyed the travelogue so far, wait for the next post.