Delhi: Fatehpuri Mosque
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
The state of the building
As in 2020
Mohammad Ibrar, September 23, 2020: The Times of India
From: Mohammad Ibrar, September 23, 2020: The Times of India
At the western end of Chandni Chowk lies the 17th century Fatehpuri Masjid. The historical boulevard is being revamped, but the mosque will be an incongruent terminal point if it isn’t spruced up. In fact, it poses a hazard at the moment, with the north minar of the mosque leaning ominously to the right. The mosque authorities claim to have petitioned the Waqf Board several times for repairs. In response, the board has pleaded bureaucratic hurdles in taking restoration measures.
The mosque, built by Fatehpuri Begum, one of the wives of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in 1650, is in a shambles. Besides the leaning minar, the drainage of the central wuzukhana, or ablution tank, is damaged, and the pillars and roofs show cracks.
Historian Swapna Liddle, author of Chandni Chowk, the Mughal City of Old Delhi, said, “The Fatehpuri Masjid is a Shah Jahan-era mosque built by the ladies of the palace. Being directly opposite Red Fort, it has a significant location.” But now the mosque needs help. Mufti Mukarram, imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, said a Waqf Board team led by its then chairman, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, visited the mosque in November 2019 and promised to begin repairs of the shrine and its wuzukhana. “Since then, nothing has been done,” Mukarram said, adding that the sewerage is in such a poor condition that rain and sewage enter the mosque complex from the Khari Baoli side. “Occasionally, water also flows in from the Galgotia market side abutting the masjid’s western wall where we stand and pray,” he said.
The imam was understandably most worried about the north minaret. “The red sandstone minar is leaning to the right, and cracks and gaps can be seen. In this state, it is a major danger for the hundreds who come here to pray. Its fall will also be an irretrievable heritage loss.”
The roofs and the pillars of the madrassa housed in the mosque are also damaged, with the pillars warped now and struggling to hold the weight of the structure.
Mukarram felt that when the whole of Chandni Chowk was being beautified, it would be logical to also revamp the mosque. Ajay Kumar, director of projects at the Delhi chapter of Intach, agreed. After a team from the heritage conservation organisation visited the mosque recently, Kumar suggested, “Preservation work should be carried out urgently in a phased manner, with heritage strictures incorporated into the plans.” The mufti’s son, Hammad Ahmed, claimed that the Waqf Board received rent from 123 properties near the mosque. “The board can always use that money to conserve Fatehpur Masjid,” he said. In response, Himal Akhtar, member of the Waqf Board, told TOI, “The resolution for the conservation of the mosque was passed by the board in January 2020. We sanctioned Rs25 lakh for the work, and we will give the repairs priority.”
However, he added, the Delhi assembly elections took place soon after in February and the board chairman demitted office. “Only after a new chairman assumes office can funds be released,” said Akhtar, adding that the board had already sent engineers and a technical team to determine the course of restoration.
Liddle was critical of the Waqf board and said it “needs to have a system of regular inspection, maintenance and conservation”. The historian said, “You cannot respond suddenly only when a problem arises. This happened when the Masjid Mubarak Begum in Chawri Bazar was damaged in the recent rains. This kind of bandaging will not work. These are historic monuments and the if the caretakers are unable to take care of them, there should be a system involving the government agencies.”
