Taj Mahal, Bulandshahr Explained

Taj Mahal or Mini Taj Mahal or Qadri's Taj Mahal, officially known as Maqbara Yadgare Mohabbat Tajammuli Begum[1] is a replica of the historic Taj Mahal of Agra[2] located in Kaser Kalan, a small village in Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh, India.[3] It was built by an 81-year-old retired postmaster, Faizul Hasan Qadri in the memory of his dead wife Tajamulli Begum, who died due to throat cancer in 2011.[4] [5] [6]

Construction

A total of Rs 15 lakh spent in construction of Qadri's Taj Mahal.[7] Faizul Hasan Qadri sold a piece of land for ₹ 6 lac and his wife's jewellery for ₹ 1.5 lac and got the mausoleum constructed with the help of a local. Qadri refused to take financial help of then CM Akhilesh Yadav,[8] as he wanted to build it from his saving.[9] [10] The work for Qadri's 'Taj Mahal' has been halted due to lack of finances.[11]

About founder

In June 2017, it was reported by Hindustan Times that Faizul Hasn Qadri donated his last piece of land for a government school for girls, even when his ‘Taj Mahal’ project was incomplete, due to lack of finances.[12] [13]

The founder of Taj Mahal, Bulandshahr, Faizul Hasn Qadri died on 9 November 2018 in a road accident.[14] He was buried next to his wife in the Maqbara Yadgare Mohabbat Tajammuli Begum that he made in Kaser Kalan village of Bulandshahr.[15]

In popular culture

In 2016, it was featured in History TV18's TV show OMG! Yeh Mera India of Season 2, hosted by Krishna Abhishek.[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Retired post office clerk builds his own 'Taj Mahal'. Rediff.com. 31 August 2015.
  2. News: Ledbetter. Carly. 7 Other Taj Mahals That Look Extremely Similar To The Original. HuffPost. 11 November 2014.
  3. News: Haleem. Suhail. Indian builds a Taj Mahal for his wife. BBC. 23 July 2013.
  4. News: Khandelwal. Peeyush. This retired UP postmaster built a Taj Mahal for his 'Mumtaz'. Hindustan Times. 21 August 2015.
  5. News: A humble Indian postman builds a Taj Mahal for his wife. 8 December 2014. The National.
  6. News: Small wonder: Indian postmaster builds own 'Taj Mahal' for late wife. The Express Tribune. 21 August 2015.
  7. News: OMG! बीवी की याद में बनवा दिया ताजमहल. News 18. 6 July 2017. Hindi.
  8. News: Uttar Pradesh Government to Help Retired Man Build 'Mini' Taj Mahal in Bulandshahr. NDTV. 22 August 2015.
  9. News: Kapur. Manavi. Faizul Hasan Qadri is building a 'Taj Mahal'. Business Standard. 29 August 2015.
  10. News: Meet today's Shah Jahan, who's building new Taj Mahal. Zee News. 20 August 2015.
  11. News: In his journey of love, UP Muslim man surrenders his 'Taj Mahal' dream to build girls' school. OneIndia. 24 June 2017.
  12. News: Khandelwal . Peeyush . Now a school for girls next to Bulandshahr's 'Taj Mahal', thanks to this retired postmaster . . Jun 24, 2017.
  13. News: In his journey of love, UP Muslim man surrenders his 'Taj Mahal' dream to build girls' school . . June 24, 2017.
  14. News: Mini Taj Mahal maker for wife dies in a road accident . . November 10, 2018.
  15. News: 'Mini Taj' maker Faizul Hasan Qadri dies in accident; to be buried next to his Begum in his 'monument' . . November 10, 2018.
  16. News: Qadri's Taj Mahal. History TV18. 2 November 2016.