Agra, Taj Mahal - Uttar Pradesh State

Event date: 4th July 2009

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (Afghan Persian from Badakhshan), generally considered to be the principal designer.

In this special entry (especially to me) I want to forget all about the facts of the world famous Taj Mahal as everyone knew of it's existence and the story behind the construction. What I wish to share in this blog is a plot of 2005 film "Taj Mahal, An Eternal Love Story". The story beings with Shah Jahan, known as Prince Khurram (played by Zulfikar Sayed) when he is about 19 years old. Khurram was Emperor Jahangir's (payed by Arbaaz Ali) favourite son, whom Jahangir wanted to be the future Emperor of India, along with his wife Noor Jahan (played by Pooja Batra), who was well aware of this fact. Noor Jahan was married once previously, but when her first husband died, Jahangir married her. Ladli Begum (played by Kim Sharma) is Noor Jahan’s daughter from her first marriage. Noor Jahan is a shrewd lady, who wants the best for herself and her daughter and she aspires for Ladli Begum to marry Prince Khurram so she that she will become the Empress of the Mughal Dynasty.

Khurram's passion for hunting leads him into a jungle, and one day while hunting he met Arjumand Bano. Their meeting was love at first sight, with Khurram attracted to Arjumand Bano’s innocence and beauty while Arjumand was impressed by Khurram’s great personality. Arjumand Bano is Asaf Khan’s (played by Aly Khan) daughter, Empress Noor Jahan’s brother. Khurram and Bano again meet at the Meena Bazaar, where finally both of them declare their love for each other. Ladli Begum comes to know about their love, but she keeps on wooing Prince Khurram. Noor Jahan sees this love as a hindrance to her plans of making her daughter the future Empress of India and she succeeds in turning Emperor Jahangir against his own son, Khurram.

Noor Jahan sends her secret lover and the warrior Mahabat Khan (played by Milind Gunaji) to fight Khurram and to kill Arjumand Bano. As a result, a war takes place in which forces are also sent by Emperor Jahangir against Khurram. When Khurram meets Jahangir, he declares that Arjumand Bano was more superior to him than the Mughal Dynasty. As a result, relations become even more bitter between the father and the son. However Arjumand Bano, who was a peace-loving person, agreed to forget Khurram and asked him to marry Kandahari Begum (played by Negar Khan), an Iranian Princess, who was chosen by Emperor Jahangir for Khurram. Khurram, due to Arjumand’s insistence, marries Kandahari Begum while on the other hand, Ladli Begum marries to Khurram’s brother. After Emperor Jahangir dies, Khurram becomes Prince Shah Jahan and ruler of the Mughal dynasty. He finally marries the love of his life, Arjumand Bano, who becomes Mumtaz Mahal. The couple live happily for a while until misfortune occurs.

Khurram must leave for war, but a pregnant Aarjumand chooses to also go with him, as she used to accompany Shah Jahan in all his battles. Khurram tries to return back to the camp from the battle, but takes a long time to return as he forgets his way. While he is lost, Mumtaz Mahal dies while giving birth to her nineteenth child. During her last breath, Mumtaz Mahal asks Shah Jahan to construct her tomb in a beautiful mausoleum, describing one which would be so beautiful it would express their love for each other to all who visit the mausoleum. Mumtaz’s death is the greatest tragedy for Shah Jahan, and as a result he becomes a completely reformed person. Shah Jahan then starts off to fulfill his wife’s last wish, to build Taj Mahal, a beautiful mausoleum to honor the also beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal goes on to become the 7th Wonder Of The World.

Time passes, and in future Shah Jahan's sons and daughter grow up. The sons are greedy and eager to inherit their father powers, and as a result they imprison him in a room from where he can easily see Taj Mahal. He watches his sons fighting against each other to become the Emperor of India and the Mughal Dynasty. Everywhere around him there is violence and warfare, with the beheading of slaves and even brothers is no longer uncommon. In the end, Khurram dies while looking at Taj Mahal, the Taj Mahal that took an astonishing 22 years to be made, a tribute showing Shah Jahan as the greatest lover of all time. At his death, his body is laid down next to his love, hence resulting in the culmination of their love after death.

Long before my arrival at the greatest mausoleum  Taj Mahal, I read a book by Diana Preston of a touching story of Taj Mahal "A teardrop on the cheek of time", her research were based from the Mughal court, especially an extensive Mughal journals. I hereby recommended for those who wishes to visit, may consider reading the book first so that, you would be able to appreciate a story behind the construction of the wonders of the world. I shared my tears with both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal when reading towards the end.

Looking back after nearly four years, I cant help myself to admire again and again whenever I open my Taj Mahal photo album which according to me was my best photography shots. I chose a right time, hour, second to take each and every photo. I was lucky.