It took nine years to build the imposing Humayun’s Tomb in the 16th century and its restoration, over 400 years later, took seven years to complete.
The UN World Heritage Site restored with the help of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.
The restoration also marks a shift for the Archaeological Survey of India which has adopted a “conservation and restoration” approach towards age-old monuments and archaeological remains, in a departure from its old “preserve as found” policy.
Hailing the public-private partnership model for the restoration of monuments, Manmohan said the success of this conservation initiative would encourage similar initiatives for other monuments.
“The Humayun’s Tomb project has provided 200,000 man-days of employment for master craftsmen, demonstrating the potential of conservation works to fulfil a significant government objective. The increase in visitor numbers to this World Heritage Site will also translate into greater income through tourism,” he said at the ceremony marking the completion of the restoration.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and industrialist Ratan Tata by his side, Manmohan added: “The responsibility to conserve and restore our nation’s heritage cannot simply be the sole preserve of government agencies. The involvement of local communities who form part of the ecosystem of this heritage is, therefore, essential in this effort.” Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Tata Trust has also contributed towards the work. The Aga Khan Trust has restored the monument, commissioned by Bega Begum in memory of her husband Humayun in 1562, to its original glory. The monument built on the char-bagh pattern is said to be have been a precursor to the Taj Mahal, represented by exquisite mausoleums built by the Mughals. The tomb shot back into prominence when US President Barack Obama, along with his wife, visited it in 2010.
Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said: “We are also recognising that our heritage, especially the monuments, doesn’t always have to be a burden for the people. Through innovative measures, the monuments can be transformed into a source of livelihood for those living in the nearby areas.”