[W/R] Meet A Retired Postmaster From UP, Who Is Building Taj Mahal For His Mumtaj

Image: thetimes.co.uk

350 years ago Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, a retired post master from Uttar Pradesh is building a replica of the heritage in memory of his beloved wife.

Faizul Hasan Qadri, who hails from Kaser Kalan village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, married Tajamulli in 1953.

The retired postmaster’s wife died in 2011 due to throat cancer.

In the memory of his ‘begum’, the 80-year-old decided to build a mini Taj.He devoted everything he had for the monument. Initially, Qadri sold a piece of land and his wife’s jewellery to meet the construction demands.

But now he is facing difficulties to meet the finances. Qadri who has already spent around Rs 11 lakhs, needs Rs 6-7 lakh more to get the marble studded to the monument and also build a lush green area around it.

The idea of the monument, Qadri claims, came to him while he and his wife were once wondering if anyone would ever remember them after their death.

Image: Burhaan Kinu of Hindustan Times

“I have told my brother to bury me here by the side of my wife. I have deposited the fees with the Wakf board also. Everything that comes has to go away some day. My wife is dead. I will also die some day. The monument too might not stand forever. I just wish to see it complete before I die,” Faizal said as told to Hindustan Times reporter.