Pervez Musharraf might have expected me to say Shah Jahan, but I told him. That the designer (of the Taj Mahal) was Ustad Ahmed Lahori. Who hails from Lahore, Pakistan, noted archaeologist KK Muhammad said.
New Delhi: Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Was so enthralled by the Taj Mahal’s architectural marvel. That the first question he asked when he saw the monument. Was “who designed it”, recalls noted archaeologist KK Muhammad.
Mr Muhammad was the Superintending Archaeologist. Of the Agra Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2001. When Mr Musharraf visited India for the Agra Summit. With then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Mr Musharraf, 79, died in Dubai on Sunday after battling a terminal illness.
“He fell in love with the Taj Mahal the moment he looked at it and the first question. He asked me was ‘who designed it’,” Mr Mohammad told PTI on Sunday. Recalling his nearly hour-long visit to the iconic monument. Pakistani general.
“He might have expected me to call him Shah Jahan, but I told him that the designer (of the Taj Mahal). Was Ustad Ahmed Lahori, who hailed from Lahore, Pakistan,” he said.
Mr. Mohammad was assigned the duty of official tour guide to Musharraf to inform about the beauty. And uniqueness of the ‘Monument of Love’. He retired from ASI in 2012 as its Regional Director (North).
“It was around 3pm when he reached the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. After exchanging greetings, the first thing. I told him was about the optical illusion of the monument,” Mr Mohammad recalled. “He was quite impressed. His next question was ‘What’s the best time to visit the Taj Mahal?'” Mr Muhammad said. Adding that he told Mr Musharraf another. Aspect of optical illusions that few people know about. I told him that it has a different mood. But, the setting sun creates a great effect on the white marbles and it looks amazing at that time. Also, when it’s about to rain, it seems that the monument is about it. Weeps,” said the former ASI officer. said
He claimed that Mr Musharraf “felt at home” when he learned that the wedding ceremony of Shah Jahan. And Mumtaz Mahal was held at the Lahore Fort, which was also the birthplace of the Mughal emperor.
“He was supposed to stay 45 minutes but it was extended for another 15 minutes. We kept him and his wife together for about five minutes because they were in the ‘monument of love,'” Later. In his book, published on September 25, 2006. ‘In the In ‘Line of Fire: A Memoir’, Mr. Musharraf described. His impression of the Taj Mahal, “Agra is the site of the Taj Mahal. The famous Mughal monument of love. One of the wonders of the world because of its perfect symmetry and ethereal beauty.“
