Lahore: Nawab Ali Mardan’s masterpiece mausoleum has become a ruin after the lock was not opened

The area of ​​Lahore where once the luxurious residences of the Mughal princes were located, this area is now called ‘Mughalpura’. Even today, if you wander in this area, you will find some tomb or Mughal era mosque in its densely populated streets.

One of them is the tomb of Shah Jahan’s construction advisor and engineer Ali Mardan Khan, who is not only considered higher than all the tombs in the city in terms of architecture, but his tomb was the construction consultant during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. There is also an argument. Despite the passage of several hundred years, the structure of this building is a guarantee of its glorious past.

Built around 1650, this magnificent building is located behind Mughalpura Railway Workshop towards Wheat Road, from where a five meter long tunnel was constructed.

Its main entrance is locked and the condition of the building suggests that it has been closed for a long time, let alone other people, the traffic of administrative personnel.

According to the records of the Department of Archeology, when Nawab Ali Mardan constructed this tomb, his mother died, on which she was buried here and when he himself died on the way due to illness while going to the Kashmir Valley, his body was buried. Khaki was also brought to Lahore and he was also buried in the same building as per the will.

There are three tombs in the basement under the building of this mausoleum, one of which is said to be of Ali Mardan, the second of his mother and the third of his sister.

Who was Nawab Ali Mardan Khan?

According to historical sources, Nawab Ali Mardan, born into a Kurdish family, was the son of Ganj Ali Khan, a military officer attached to the court of Shah Abbas I, the emperor of Iran, who ruled Kerman for about 30 years.

After Ganj Ali’s death, Shah Abbas gave his son Ali Mardan the title of ‘Khan’ and granted him the kingdom of Kandahar, but when the Safavid dynasty began to struggle for power, Ali Mardan Khan joined Shah Jahan’s court in 1632. happened Shah Jahan gave Ali Mardan Khan the governorship of Kashmir as well as Lahore so that he could spend summers in Kashmir and winters in Lahore. The province of Oudh was also given to him as a fief.

In 1641, Ali Mardan Khan was given the governorship of Kabul. According to historians, Mughal Emperor Ali was very kind to Mardan Khan and he was often rewarded with honors. In January 1643, he also received the title of ‘Ameer Al-Amra’.

Ali Mardan Khan’s fame is also due to his constructions. It is recorded in Naqosh Lahore No. that Nawab Ali Mardan Khan was a great engineer and he had a great passion for gardens and buildings. He dug many big canals and made gardens in Kabul and Kashmir.

Besides the Delhi canal which passes between the city and the fort, he also built the canal from Ferozepur and Delhi to Hisar. The canal near Madhupur which flows out of the Ravi and irrigates the Shalamar Bagh, was issued under him.

Similarly, in Peshawar and Kabul, there are monuments to him in the form of gardens and buildings.

Ali Mardan Khan died of an illness on his way to Kashmir on 26 April 1657, his body was brought to Lahore in khaki and buried in the pre-built mausoleum at Mughalpura where his mother was buried.

Why is the building of the tomb dilapidated?

In this regard, Director of Archeology Punjab Malik Maqsood told Independent Urdu that there is no doubt that the tomb of Nawab Ali Mardan Khan is the epitome of magnificent constructions in the Mughal period and its style of construction also proves that he was an expert architect. Gets It is a valuable asset for future generations too but it is sad to say that no department has played any role in its maintenance for the past many years.’

He said that the place where this mausoleum was built is a railway area and its main gate has been locked for many years. “Many times the Department of Archeology tried to restore it, but there were departmental obstacles.”

Malik Maqsood said: ‘Now we have met the railway authorities and convinced them that its possession will remain with the railway, but a lock should be installed, which has two keys. Give one to us and keep one for yourself, but it is necessary to restore it, otherwise this building is in a state of disrepair, not to be completely demolished.’

He further said that the railway authorities have agreed. The money received in the upcoming budget will be used to renovate and restore it to its original state so that this national heritage can be opened to the citizens and this building can also be added to the historical places of Lahore famous for tourism.