Neglected Roshanara Bagh falls into obscurity

In 1650, Roshanara Begum — a Mughal princess and the daughter of emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal — patronised the construction of a pleasure garden on the outskirts of Shahjahanabad. The bagh, or garden, in Shakti Nagar in north Delhi, also came to house Begum’s tomb after she died in 1671, which is now among a few other historical structures from the period. While the garden currently only houses the tomb, a 17th-century eastern gateway, and a water channel, the other structures have fallen into obscurity over the years for lack of proper care.

- Sadia Akhtar

The tomb is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected structure. However, it exhibits severe damage while piecemeal repairs over the years have failed to stem the overall deterioration of the tomb and its surroundings. According to officials, there are no immediate plans for the core conservation of the complex.

According to Maulvi Zafar Hasan, a former ASI deputy superintendent who prepared the first list of monuments worthy of conservation in 1916, Roshanara Bagh inhabited a few other buildings but only some were left.

The elaborate garden itself is frequented by locals and other visitors, but the decrepit tomb of its patron continues to stay neglected.

Begum’s grave rests in the middle of the 57-acre garden and the tomb has a central hall with open courtyards on four sides. On a day when the weather is kind, one can see women indulge in kirtans in one corner even as middle-aged men play cards in another.

The garden also hosts the now-sealed Roshanara Club, where young cricket aspirants can be seen practising. The tomb closely resembles a baradari (a pavilion with 12 openings) and is surrounded by a water tank.

Praveen Singh, superintending archaeologist, ASI Delhi Circle, said that the government agency was currently carrying out work at the water channel adjacent to the baradari. Singh said they worked on the gateway of the Roshnara complex but admitted they needed conservation support. He added that the agency could only carry out work at a limited number of monuments at once.