Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Recreating History At Humayun?s TombOffering a glimpse of the great Mughal art of landscaping in the midst of Delhi?s concrete jungles, the restored gardens at Humayun?s Tomb were thrown open to visitors last week.
The first privately funded restoration of the garden of the tomb, which is a World Heritage Site, was completed last month. It was a joint effort of the Agha Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the aegis of the National Culture Fund (NCF).

Mughal emperor Humayun's mausoleum here, said to be the Indian subcontinent's first garden tomb, reopens Tuesday after a $650,000 (Rs 31 million) facelift that has added scintillating lights, refreshed fountains and made the tourist site disabled-friendly.
The 16th century monument was renovated under a programme taken up jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Aga Khan Foundation for Culture and the Oberoi Group of Hotels.

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, began a six-day official visit to India Monday during which he will meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Abdul Kalam, officials said.It is his first visit to India in 11 years. He will meet Kalam and Vajpayee later Monday and is also expected to meet deputy premier Lal Krishna Advani and Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, an Indian government official said.

The Aga Khan, billionaire spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, met Indian Finance Minister Jaswant Singh during an official visit here Tuesday. He is scheduled to inaugurate the restoration of a tomb of Emperor Humayun. The work was carried out jointly by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. The Aga Khan, who is on the second day of a six-day visit here, was also to meet leaders of the Ismaili community.

Whether through neglect or wilful destruction, the disappearance of physical traces of the past deprives us of more than memories. Spaces that embody historic realities remind us of the lessons of the past.'His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims was speaking at the inauguration of the restored gardens that surround the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun.