Arab Ki Sarai, the caravans of bygone era, restored to old glory in India
History tells us that Arabs went from place to place either for trade or propagation of Islam, or both, or for seeking knowledge. During these travels, they needed more frequent places of rest than the towns and villages could provide.
These ancient desert caravans used to stop at specially built inns called caravanserais (also called khans). Arabs also came to India for trade and they needed such inns on a regular basis.
There are no vestiges of such inns anywhere – except one in New Delhi called Arab Ki Sarai within the premise of Humayun’s Tomb Complex on Mathura Road, which was in a dilapidated state.
The sandstone necropolis of Mughal dynasty, the Humayun’s Tomb built in the 1560s, is one the finest specimen of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Restored to old glory
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalization of communities in the developing world, has recently restored this Arab Ki Sarai to its pristine glory.
Just before restoration, the evocative gateway of a walled enclosure built in the 17th century by Hamida Banu Begum was one of few reminders of sturdy, walled roadside caravanserai compound that were in vogue in those bygone days.
Arab Ki Sarai now sports a fresh look having retained the old elements. (Supplied)
The lofty eastern gateway of a walled enclosure built in the 17th century – which was originally a market built during Jahangir’s reign alongside Arab Ki Sarai, Nizamuddin East – now sports a fresh look having retained the old elements.
Arab Ki Sarai has a central arch flanked by projecting balconies that are supported by carved brackets. This 13 meter-high, five-arched gateway, topped with battlements is two-bay deep. It also has chambers and a domed roof flanked by niches on both sides.
The spandrels are ornamented with detailed tile work and medallions bearing Quranic inscriptions. The niches were almost getting dismembered from the main structure and needed repair badly while the area was full of green moss and wild vegetation.
All these now been taken care of by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which began restoration work in January 2017.
Quranic inscriptions
According to Ujwala Menon, AKTC’s conservation architect, several cracks allowed water penetration resulting in dampness and salt deposits. “Quranic inscriptions got hidden under the layer of cement plaster, tiles were missing and portions of the roof of the gateway had collapsed,” says Memon.
Menon says sadly, not all of the artwork could be restored as evidence had been lost. “As a result, central ceiling medallion had to be left blank. Some of the newspaper articles dating back to 1960s suggest that its walls were adorned with paintings but that could not be restored,” she says.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has restored this Arab Ki Sarai to its pristine glory. (Supplied)
We learn from the pages of history that the high gateway that served as the southern entrance of the Arab Ki Serai – built to accommodate the 300 craftsmen whom Hamida Banu Begum, had brought with her on her return from pilgrimage to Mecca now adorn a graceful look after restoration.
These craftsmen were involved in the building of Humayun’s Garden-Tomb. Conservation works included conservation of the main wooden doorway, conservation of the stone façade, reconstruction of the partially collapsed entrance chamber, conservation of the chambers at ground floor.
Pages from history
Author Mirza Sangin Beg, writing in a Persian book Sair-ul-Manazil (Tulika Books) in the 1820s, refers this inn as “property of Arabs and other general populace.”
Author Ranjan Kumar Singh – in his book The Islamic Monuments of Delhi – writes that the Arab Ki Saraiconsists of a large enclosure adjoining the south-west corner of Humayun’s tomb. It is divided by two quadrangles by a series of cells provided with a gateway in the center.
Immediately outside its lofty eastern entrance approached by a gateway from the east, with traces of paintings on its underside, is the second quadrangle, originally bounded by arched cells, which is known as the mandi (market) which was added by Mir Banu Agha.
Courtesy: english.alarabiya.net
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Karnataka open to making Tulu second additional official language: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Minister Shivraj Tangadagi on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that the Karnataka government is in favour of declaring Tulu as the state’s second additional official language.
He said the government is studying the measures adopted by West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, both of which have additional official languages.
The minister was responding to a question by Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai during Question Hour.
Tulu is predominantly spoken in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, and legislators across party lines from these regions, including Speaker U T Khader, have been demanding that the government declare it as the state’s second additional official language.
At present, Kannada is the state’s only official language, while English is also used for official purposes as an additional language.
"I am continuously following it up. We have written to West Bengal and sent a committee of officials to Andhra Pradesh, where Urdu was recently declared the second official language. The committee has gathered information and returned, but is yet to submit its report," Tangadagi said.
He added that once the report is submitted, a meeting involving the Speaker, district in-charge ministers, and legislators from Tulu-speaking districts will be convened with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "I want to assure you that we are in favour of this," he said.
Earlier, noting that several states have two or three additional official languages, Rai demanded that Tulu be declared an official language at the earliest, stating that it would not impose any financial burden on the government.
"Tulu has a history of 3,000 years, has its own script, and is included in Google Translate. The language is being researched in Germany and France, and universities have allowed examinations in Tulu," Rai said, adding that this was a unanimous demand of 13 legislators from Tulu-speaking Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, with no opposition.
Saying it had been a long-standing demand, Rai added that a Cabinet meeting was likely to be held in Mangaluru in the coming days and urged that a decision be announced there.
BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath also demanded early action to declare Tulu an official language. He even spoke in Tulu in the House with Speaker U T Khader, who hails from a Tulu-dominant region and speaks the language fluently.
Kamath said a committee headed by educationist Mohan Alva, constituted by the previous BJP government to examine the issue, had studied the matter in detail and compiled all relevant information.
