Hidden Secrets of Bibi ka Maqbara-Maqbara A Feminine Mausoleum
It is a common practice in many communities of the world to raise monuments in the memory of the beloved and the elders after their death. The world-famous pyramids built in Egypt are good examples of such monuments. The excavations were done at Mohenjo Daro and Harappa also indicate the existence of the tradition of construction of tombs in the loving memory of the departed.[1] Mausoleums have been built from ancient times on the graves of men and women throughout the world and continue to be built until the present day. Some genius architects designed the tombs on the graves of women or men in such a way that the structure revealed the gender of the Mad fun (buried). It is also a customary practice to hold discussions about a building with regards to its masculine or feminine characteristics. Though it is very difficult to identify a building with regards to its masculine or feminine attributes, the artisans and architects have been talking of these from the days of yore and making efforts to classify such characteristics from various existing pieces of architecture. The criterion for the identification of the feminine attributes of any mausoleum can never be defined. In spite of this fact artists or architects have been trying to distinguish the masculine and feminine touch in the construction of monuments.
It will not be a ground-breaking discovery if one finds some distinguishing characteristics in the Maqbara. Muslim mausoleums in India bear marked feminine characteristics as compared to the monuments constructed by Muslims in other parts of the world. Bibi-ka-Maqbara is more distinguished as construction with feminine attributes. The structures of the Taj Mahal and the Bibi-ka-Maqbara can be rated as first grade buildings in the world having feminine characteristics.
The
mausoleum of the Prophet's aunt Sayyada Atiqa was built in Cairo in the year
1120 AD[2]and
is probably the first best specimen of feminine monuments in the Muslim world.
The neighbouring monumental mausoleum of Sayadati Ruqayya built in Cairo in the
year 1133 AD[3]
is also an outstanding instance of the feminine type of architecture. The tomb
of Zubeida,[4]
the wife of the famous Khalifa Haroon-al-Rashid, built in the year 1151 AD at
Baghdad, impressed its visitors because of its distinguishing feminine identifications.
The
mausoleum[5] of
the wife of Malik Ambar built at Khuldabad can be identified as an extraordinary
example of a feminine structure.
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Malik Ambar’s Tomb
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Tomb of Malik Ambar’s Wife
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The
Taj Mahal is the most brilliant representation of this phenomenon. The Taj
presents itself as an edifice shaped in incredible softness, smoothness and the likes of the limbs of a beautiful and tender woman which is beyond imagination.[6]
Muslim art was feminised to pay homage to womankind by denoting grace, gentleness,
suavity, kindliness and compassion as worthier attributes found in women as
compared to the fierce tumults which are unavoidable characteristics of a man.[7]
Over and above the beauty of the Taj Mahal bears a feminine charisma.[8]
The
construction of the Bibi-ka-Maqbara started in 1653 AD, five years after the
completion of the construction of the Taj Mahal in 1648 AD.[9]
Mausoleum of Dilras Bano Begum was built in her lifetime[10]
under her own supervision and under the support and supervision of Prince
Aurangzeb. The best architects and engineers were roped in the construction of
this monument. The Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the perfect example of feminine beauty
and can be compared with the Taj. The beauty of a woman lies in her
proportionate body. The main body of the Taj seems to be colossal and beautiful
and on the other hand, the main body of the Maqbara gives an appearance of a
slim and beautiful lady. The four minarets of the Maqbara are not round in
shape but they are purposefully shaped into octagonal shape[11]
which adds to its feminine beauty.
Sky View of Main Tomb of Maqbara
It was possible to copy the Taj building and to erect the same at Aurangabad but the architects of the day, thoughtfully and deliberately kept a difference in the construction of the mausoleum with a view to having its own identity and to give it an enhanced feminine touch.
The
Maqbara also bears the architectural foresight of the lady Dilras Bano Begum
who was alive when its construction had started and she had herself supervised its
construction. The construction of the Taj was completed after the death of
Mumtaz Mahal.
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| Moonlight View of Maqbara |
Dr. Shaikh
Ramzan
M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D. (History) Researcher
[1] Dr S. Radhakrishnan, ed., “The
Cultural Heritage of India, Vol. I, (Calcutta, Institute of Culture, 1970)
p.113
[2] R.A. Jairajbhoy, “An Outline of
Islamic Architecture”, (Bombay, Asia Publishing House, 1972), Plate 75, p.159
[3] Ibid., Plate 75, p. 159
[4] Ibid., Plate 125 p.243
[5] The local memory locates the
mausoleum of the wife of Malik Ambar to the southwest direction of Malik
Ambar's tomb at Khuldabad
[6] Nath, op. cit., p.154
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Taj has completed in the year 1648
AD. S.V. Ketkar, ed. “Maharashtreeya Dyankosh” C Vol.14 (Poona, M.J. Mandal,
1925). P. 734
[10] Aurangabad District Gazetteers, op.
cit., p.127 Dilras Bano Begum died in 1657 AD at Aurangabad after four years
from the beginning of the construction of Maqbara.
[11] Photo plate of Maqbara P. 31, 54,
55
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