Secret of Maqbara Builder Maqbara was built by Dilras Bano Begum in her lifetime and not by her son Azam Shah

 Secret of Maqbara Builder
Maqbara was built by Dilras Bano Begum in her lifetime and not by her son Azam Shah

The information board affixed by the Department of The Archaeological Survey of India at Aurangabad is totally erroneous.

End of Enigma:

In my PhD research completed in 1982, it has already been proven that the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara was built by Dilras Bano Begum herself and not by her son Azam Shah, because Azam Shah was not born when the construction of the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara was initiated. At the time of the death of Dilras Bano Begum she was honoured by Prince Aurangzeb with the title, “Rabiya-ud-Daurani”. She was a very pious lady and helped the poor people at large; therefore the title of Rabiya-ud-Daurani was accorded to her in the memory of Hazrat Rabiya Basri of Iraq was a very famous lady saint of the Muslim world.

The historians, news writers and foreign travellers during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan and Prince Aurangzeb have magnified the glory of the Maqbara of Dilras Bano Begum[1] but unfortunately, they were silent about the name of the builder of the Maqbara, and hence a number of modern historians have entered into the controversial argument to establish the truth about the builder. As they could not come to anyone opinion, the names of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Moazzam, Azam Shah and even Dilras Bano herself were put forth as probable builders of the Maqbara.

Not only this, but the travellers, Walter Hamilton[2] and Robert Grindlay[3] who happened to visit Aurangabad in 1825 AD and 1813 AD respectively noted that the tomb was erected for one of the daughters of Aurangzeb, which is basically a contradictory statement to Bhimsen Saxena, Thevenot and Careri, Tavernier,[4] etc. That, “Rabiya Daurani” was a favourite daughter of Aurangzeb, as stated by James Fergusson[5] in 1876 AD, is also not correct.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Central Government of India which is having its office in Maqbara at Aurangabad, has affixed a cultural board at the entrance of the gate of the Maqbara, which reads that this tomb of Aurangzeb’s wife was constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum popularly known as Rabiya Daurani in the year 1660 AD.[6] The board of ASI is not only misleading the visitors but is also creating false history since the last few decades.

Cultural Board of ASI

The references to Azam Shah as a builder of this Maqbara might have been taken by ASI from famous books like The Glimpses of Nizam Domain (1898),[7] The Epigraphica Indica,[8] and the Aurangabad District Gazetteers[9] (1880) AD. Most of the modern writers and authors have followed the same but there are untrue references in their writings.

Dr Shaikh Ramzan

M.A., M.Ed., PhD (History) Researcher

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[1] John B. Seely, “Wonders of Ellora”, (London, Geo., B Whittaker, 1825), p. 386; Thevenot and Careri, “Indian Travels” Ed., Surendranath Sen, (New Delhi, National Archives, 1949), p. 103

[2] Walter Hamilton, “Description of Hindostan” (London, George Cunning, 1820) p. 145

[3] R. M. Grindlay, “Scenery Customs and Architecture of Western side of India”, (Cornhill, Smith Elder & Co., 1830) p. 30

[4] J. B. Tavernier’s “Travels in India”, ed. William Crook (London, v. Ball, 1925), p. 103

[5] James Fergusson “Indian and Eastern Architecture” (London, John Murray, 1876), p. 602

[6] Photo plate No. C , p. 462

[7] Burrows, op. cit., p. 376

[8] Epigraphica Indica, Arabic and Persian Supplement, 1951 and 1952, p. 34

[9] Aurangabad District Gazetteers, op. cit.,