Urban Mirror Correspondent
Aligarh, May 12: Dr Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, a well-known archaeologist and historian at the Aligarh Muslim University, who specialises in medieval Indian history and has written a book on Fathepur Sikri, said there was a sinister plan behind handing over of Delhi’s Red Fort to Corporate group Dalmia for maintenance of heritage monument.
“Looking after our prized monuments is the task of the government, not of a corporate house. What is the meaning of the interpretation centres that will be set up in these monuments? I apprehend this is a first step to reinterpret our history. The government is already rewriting our textbooks — they are going to do the same with our architecture. History is moving towards myth creation where those who have been defeated are being presented as victors. In mythology, you can say anything,” Dr Rezavi cautioned.
Dr Rezavi further said “you have to understand the monument, you have to understand its history and culture before an intervention can be made.” Dr Rezavi is a strong critic of the Humayun’s Tomb restoration, undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
He pointed out that the main architect for the project (Ratish Nanda) has claimed the team was closely following the original techniques of construction, including getting ‘craftsmen from Central Asia’ to assist in the work. Dr Rezavi says, “Our monuments were never built by craftsmen from Central Asia. They were built by Indian craftsmen and masons; it was only the architects who came from outside. The Akbarnama does provide some generalised details about the materials used but we do not know the constituencies of plaster or other details… The ASI is the most efficient body to look after these monuments and their hand should be strengthened.”
