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Asif Khan’s tomb restored on canvas
 By Ali Usman
LAHORE: In an attempt to draw attention to the city’s lost heritage,
students of the Naqsh School of Arts (NSA) have drawn pictures of
the original state of the tomb of Mirza Abdul Hasan, the elder
brother of Queen Noor Jehan, who was known by his title of Asif
Khan. Asif Khan was appointed Governor of Lahore by Emperor Jahangir
in 1625. He died in 1641 and Shah Jahan constructed his tomb.
Asif Khan was the father of Queen Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the Taj
Mahal was constructed. Asif Khan’s tomb is located in Shahdara,
adjacent to the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. A series of
rooms, called the Akbari Sarai, separates the two monuments.
The drawings aim to capture the original grandeur of the tomb, which
stands in the city in a dilapidated but dignified condition. The
tomb is a typical Mughal construction, commissioned by Shah Jahan.
It is an octagonal structure with a high bulbous dome that stands in
the centre of a vast garden, divided into four squares. These
gardens were once bejeweled with reservoirs, fountains, profuse
stones, and beautiful interior and exterior decorative work. The
grave of Asif Khan lies inside the dome made of white marble.
Presently, it seems as if the tomb is made of only bricks. However,
according to historians, it was once covered with white marble. It
is believed that the walls and the dome of this monument were
constructed from the same white marble that was used in the
construction of the Taj Mahal. Historians also believe that the
tomb’s main dome bears resemblance with the Taj Mahal. “The marble
that is used in the Badshahi Mosque and the Taj Mahal was brought
from the same area of India.
The marble used in Asif Khan’ s tomb was also brought from the same
area,” an official in the Federal Archaeology Department said. When
Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjeet Singh ruled Punjab, he uprooted the
precious stones and marble from the tomb and used it to decorate
buildings in Amritsar and other Sikh areas, he said. A group of 19
students of NSA have made the drawings while visiting the tomb. They
sat in the gardens of the tomb, and drew the pictures after taking
references from historical texts. Senior artist and NSA Principal
Mahmoodul Hasan Rumi guided the students throughout their
assignment. The students also used some of their own imagination in
drawing the tomb. The scenes outside the tomb differ in every
drawing. However, the monument’s structure remains the same in all
the drawings.
Talking to Daily Times, Rumi said the Mughal period was one of the
most prosperous times for the sub-continent. He said, “Our own
original arts like miniature, works on kashi tiles and their motifs
came into being in the Mughal Regime.” He said this was the art that
could be showcased to the world. “It is not an escape into the past,
or sticking to it. It is just a recollection of the past, to know
how rich our artistic heritage is,” Rumi said. He said the purpose
of restoring to canvas the original elegance of Asif Khan’s tomb was
to show the people their remarkable past. He said an exhibition of
the students’ work would also be arranged.
When asked if he planned to share the drawings with any government
department, Rumi said no department had contacted him. “We will keep
these drawings in our library and show them to visitors,” he said.
Daily Times: May 25, 2009
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