ceiling of the main entrance of Jaini Mosque showing the wooden dross glazed pannels enamelled tiling of the wall, squinch and interlaced arch

The institute of Islamic history culture and civilization Islamabad, Pakistan has published a book on Thatta Architecture in 1982. This book discloses that the monument built by Mughal including Sahajahan were made through bricks in their regioms. It is important to notice that there is brick built structure set have been raised during Shah Jahan period at Thatta. There is no other name of any other Mughal ruler for construction of the mosque of Tughril Begh showing the new technique to dome construction dated 1059 A. D. / 1649 A. D. by Shah Jahan. The tomb of Esa Khan II Tarkhan having the domed tomb with pillared galleries dated 1054 A. H. /1644 A. D. On these construction everywhere you may find the octagonal brick built tomb with Hindu Symbol decorating the ceiling with Vedic scuipture and paintings but these monuments have least preserved by Archeological Department at Pakistan. The tomb is enclosure of Bqqi Begh Uzbek showing the chronical domb on octagonal drum is said to have been constructed on 1050 A. H. / 1604 A. D. The elevations of the grave stones of Diwan Shurfa Khan showing the engraving decorated in typical Tarkhan Style on the side of Cenotaph is dated 1038 A. H. / 1638 A. D. which is said to have been construction during Shah Jahan reign at Thatta. The Amir Mohammad Khan mosque at Thatta is a high sodiesed single domed square brick built structure depicting glazed tiles of Mughal Shah Jahan period is dated 1039A. H. / 1629A. D. The Jaini Mosque of Thatta is said to have been built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan which has triple entrance of newly laid garden infront of mosque with water fountains playing in the middle of water channels and cypress trees surrounding to the corridos is dated 1054 A. H. / 1647 A. D. during Shah Jahan period. The ceiling of the main entrance of Jaini Mosque showing the wooden dross glazed pannels enamelled tiling of the wall, squinch and interlaced arch at the underside of the half domb with a ceiling with sunflower at the apex giving the effort of starry sky are certainly the Hindu Religious symbols of architect which have been converted as the Mughal monuments by Archeological Department of Islamabad. Thatta came under the Mughals after Mirza Zani begh captured the city and there after his son Mirza Begh later renamed as Jagirdar of Thatta came to the power during Shah Jahan period. It is said that Governor brick building known as Miran Shah tomb and mosque is situated north-east of Sekhjia Tomb at Shahi Bazar Thatta. The inscriptions fixed over the Mihrab were built by Nawab Abdul Razzaq Muzaffar Khan. The mosque of Jami Masjid is built by Shah Jahan at Thatta in 1644 A. D. which was completed in 1647 A. D. But the floor was paved with the stone in 1657 A. D. It is said that the first repair of the mosque was carried out by Aurangzeb. Thus, it is manifestly clear that on one hand the mosque os Jami Masjid was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan from 1644 A. D. upto 1657 A. D. was in progress by the different inscriptions while on the other hand it is said that Taj Mahal was constructed after the death of Mumtaz Zilani commencing from the period of 1628 A. D. / 1658 A. D. as Emperor Shah Jahan was arrested thereafter and remained confined till his death in 1666 A. D.

The stunning revelation in this chapter, backed by conclusive proof, that the world famous Taj Mahal is after all not the creation of the cruel, lecherous Mogul emperor Shah Jahan but an ancient majestic Hindu palace, should shame generations of scholars of Indian history, who have from their high academic and governmental perches misled the public and the governments the world over. The Government of India’s Tourist Department should now lose no time in correcting the blunder of ‘selling’ the Taj Mahal to the world at large as a Muslim sepulchral product but should present it for what it is, namely, the majestic palace of a might Hindu Maharaj. – The Late Babu Rao Patel.

A conclusive and disarming confession by the fifth generation Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan’s own court chronicler that the world famous Taj Mahal is an erstwhile Hindu palace commandeered for use as a Muslim tomb has been recently discovered.

The confession is contained in the ‘Badshahnama’, a chronicle containing an account of Shah Jahan’s reign by his court employee, Mulla Abdul Hamid Lahori. Printed copies of the ‘Badshahnama’ (Bibliotheca Indica Series of the Asiatic Society of Bengal) are now available in all prominent historical libraries. A photostat of the relevant extract in Persian from pages 403 and 404 of Vol. I of the ‘Badshahnama’ appears along with the article. The passage reads :

“Before this (i.e. being taken over) it was the manzil of Raja Mansingh. At this time, it was in the occupation of Raja Jaisingh, his nephew. This was selected for Mumtaz deathly abode…….Although Raja Jaisingh deemed the take over of the grand mansion (Ala manzil) as a great honor done to him yet as a matter of etiquette and since it (taking over without compensation) is not permitted by religious convention – he was paid a (certain) sum for it from the royal treasury.”

The only change made in it since the take over are : Firstly, the throne room and the basement flooring of the palace were dug up for two cenotaphs and two graves. Secondly, Koranic verses were carved on the walls of the Hindu palace. Thirdly, Hindu fruit and flower trees like Bel, Ketaki, Jai, Jui, Champa, Maulashree and Harshringar were uprooted and replaced by lawns and others plants. Fourthly, the Hindu Peacock Throne, the silver doors, gold railings and the gems stuffed in the marble screens were removed to Shah Jahan’s own treasury and a cold stripped palace was left for Mumtaz’s burial. Fifthly, many underground and other apartments and stairs were filled up and sealed since if left vacant they would remain unswept and unclear or provide haven for destitutes and bad character.

All these alterations are minor ones and if anything they detract from the prisitne beauty of the original majesty and magnificence of the Hindu Raj Mahal earlier to its being made to masquerade as a Muslim Taj Mahal.