BANGALORE: More than 350 years ago, Shahjehan immortalised his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal by constructing the magnificent Taj Mahal. But who could have even imagined that such a gesture of love would ever be repeated, even if not on the same scale.
In Bangalore, a city far removed from such medieval romanticism, KK Sheriff is trying to do just that. He has taken it upon himself to bring Delhi to Bangalore, by recreating the famous monuments of the Mughal era around his wife’s tomb. And what makes his effort all the more special is that his wife, Begum Fakhr Sultan, happens to be a direct descendant of Shahjehan and Mumtaz Mahal! A successful businessman who dealt in agarbattis, Sheriff married Fakhr in 1948 after they met at a wedding party. She passed away in 2001.
Now, a little distance from Bannerghata Road, beyond Weaver’s Colony, his dream is taking shape on 10 acres of land. Apart from his wife’s tomb, which has been inspired by the Taj Mahal, the compound has a replica of the Red Fort, a madrassa, mosque, guesthouse, an art gallery and a community hall.
According to his son, Aqmalludin, there are over 200 minarets right now.
As a student, Sheriff was politically very active, participating in the 1942 Quit India movement. According to him, the association with Gandhi left an indelible imprint on his mind and this is echoed by the life size bronze statue of the Mahatma in the art gallery, which is otherwise mostly occupied by Mughal sculptures, paintings and busts brought in from Hyderabad. His wife, who had spent lot of her childhood playing at the Red Fort, inspired him to include the Red Fort in the plan, which didn’t have the involvement of any architect or engineer. It was just him and his ideas which guided the builders for 20 long years.
And today, Sheriff ’s marble dream stands nearly complete, a wonderful sight even with the scaffolding intact in places.