LAHORE: The tomb of Ali Mardan Khan, located near the Railway Tracks in Mughalpura where a small sign saying ‘MET-1’ is written, is presently in shambles with the embellishments falling apart and the main structure getting derelict, Daily Times learnt.
The main building of the monument is in a dilapidated condition due to neglect, aging and weathering whereas no measures for its maintenance have been taken so far by the Archaeology Department of Punjab despite declaring it a protected monument, sources informed. The monument, according to the sources, is located on the land which falls under the jurisdiction of the Pakistan Railways (PR) and thus they agreed with the Archaeology Department of Punjab to close it for the public, few years ago, while it was once surrounded by a garden.
It is now surrounded by industrial rail yards and is only accessible via a kilometre long narrow alley which only opens for public on designated days, primarily on Thursdays.
The sources further informed that the compound, where the platform of the tomb stands, has wild plantation and lacks any kind of horticulture maintenance and during the rainy seasons, it can be dangerous for anyone who visits the location due to reptiles and snakes whereas the water ingress is another threat for the foundations of the monument. Sources added that the staircase leading to the graves of Ali Mardan Khan and his mother is shaky and crumbling, being unsafe for the visitors, if any were allowed by the Archaeology Department whereas the original tile mosaics were flaking away and the fresco has also lost the original state and was fading rapidly. Sources also expressed their distress over the bricks and mortar falling out of the structure which needed immediate attention and conservation. According to sources it was once the most embellished and decorated monuments on the Grand Trunk Road but due to the negligence of authorities the monument is now at the verge of destruction. Further the sources were of the view that closing down monuments under the reasons of security is not a wise administration and the authorities should devise plans to manage monuments under all circumstances, as it is done all over the world, because such an important monument could have been a part of studies and research if it had not been closed. Sources said that closing monuments would also damage the history and heritage importance of Pakistan and Lahore.
According to a historian, Faizan Naqvi, Ali Mardan was an important official in the Mughal Empire under Emperor Shah Jahan.
“Ali Mardan was born in a Kurdish family and served as governor of Kandahar under Persia’s Safavid dynasty. After Shah’s death in 1629, he became fearful for his life because the successor Shah Safi was sacking the courtiers who were loyal to the earlier king and somewhere in 1637, Ali Mardan offered to surrender Kandahar to the Mughal Empire in exchange for his safety and Shah Jahan agreed to the offer. As a Mughal officer, Ali Mardan Khan provided guidance on canal instruction, especially in regard to the Shah Nahar canal of Shalimar Gardens. When he died in 1657, he was buried adjacent to his mother in the tomb prepared for her next to the canal at Mughalpura. Originally, the tomb sat amidst a large garden, but today only the large gateway survives,” he said. He added that some traces of inlay work, fresco and marble were still seen in the monument.
Artist and teacher Salima Hashmi was of the opinion that it was a beautiful piece of architecture and was in need of immediate conservation. She added that Archaeology Department should not be treating this monument the way they had restored Chauburji and expert conservationists should be hired for conserving this monument.
Punjab Archaeology Department Deputy Director Malik Maqsood Ahmed said that PR had closed the monument almost two years ago due to some security reasons.
“We have now requested them to open the monument for public. Most of the parts of the monument were damaged during the Sikh era and the remaining parts will soon be conserved as we are preparing a proposal for its conservation,” he said.
While talking exclusively to Daily Times, PR Director General Najam Wali Khan said that due to some reasons, this site was closed but now PR and Department of Archaeology were working together on this monument. He further said that converting the monument into a tourist site or not was yet to be decided by PR and Archaeology.
Published in Daily Times, June 21st 2018.