Poet Rahim’s tomb Delhi regains its beauty, history and poetry

Highlights:

• Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, one of the ‘Navratnas’ (nine gems) in Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court
• Commonly known as Rahim among “Tulsi, Kabir and Rahim” fame
• A poet, who through couplets venerating Lord Krishna, stands for everything that India is proud of
• Unlike Emperor Shah Jahan’s monument of love to his wife, Rahim’s tomb was built by his wife when he passed away in 1627
• Aga Khan Trust is renovating and restoring his tomb with a three-day festival showcasing the life, works and music of Rahim

No one among the over one lakh people who drive past the magnificently decrepit tomb daily can ignore it. It rudely stares you in the eye, standing next to one of Delhi’s busiest roads, close to the World Heritage Humayun Tomb, almost facing the bustling pilgrim centre of Nizamuddin, and on the way to one of Delhi’s busiest and noisiest railway stations. Yet when told that it is the Tomb of Khan-i-Khanan, as it is officially known, even history buffs wouldn’t give it a second look.

“Khan-i-Khanan who?”, some may ask. If the response is the standard line “a nobleman in Akbar’s court”, there the matter ends. Tell them it is the tomb of the son of Bairam Khan, Akbar’s uncle who ruled as regent till Akbar grew into majority. A few history buffs might get interested. Tell them it is the tomb of Rahim, one of those three poets who wrote those beautiful dohein (couplets) that we all learnt in school. Almost everyone gets hooked. “Oh, the Rahim among Tulsi, Kabir and Rahim?” would be the response.

(I have tried the trick on several friends whom I have taken on city tours of Delhi. It has always worked.)

Now the Aga Khan Trust is doing just that. They are not only renovating the decrepit tomb and restoring it to its Mughal magnificence, but they are giving it back its history and its poetry, too. As the restoration is going on, they are celebrating the legacy of the great poet with a three-day festival starting March 10, which will showcase the life, works and music of Rahim. The festival will be opened by the great emperor’s namesake, the minister of state for external affairs, M.J. Akbar.the decrepit tomb and restoring it to its Mughal magnificence, but they are giving it back its history and its poetry, too. As the restoration is going on, they are celebrating the legacy of the great poet with a three-day festival starting March 10, which will showcase the life, works and music of Rahim. The festival will be opened by the great emperor’s namesake, the minister of state for external affairs, M.J. Akbar.

Read more at the source: http://www.theweek.in/features/society/tomb-of-khan-i-khanan.html and http://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-celebrating-the-life-of-poet-rahim-2348344

Previously on Ismailimail…

Sabrina Lakhani: The overwhelming joy of welcoming my mom to INSEAD Professor Nazir Kherani inducted as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering ‘Standard Kenya’ partners with Aga Khan to train journalists on modern skills Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Canada Aga Khan University becomes Pakistan’s first laboratory accredited by College of American Pathologists Aga Khan Foundation Talk: Empowering India’s Women Reflections on Hafiz: Great Poets Series at the Aga Khan Museum Vote & Support Sheliza Kassam’s charity “Children’s Birthday Miracles” for Canadian Women of Worth by L’Oréal Paris Abdul Ghaffar Nazari receives Young Successful Figure of the Year Award Ismaili Muslim Community of Canada releases its first Online Digital Magazine Murgh Mussallam | The Ismaili Recipes Shelmina Abji to receive Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumnus Award from University of Wisconsin The Ismaili – official website of the Ismaili Community – features first photographs of Prince Sinan Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits down with Daily Hive Editor-in-Chief Farhan Mohamed, at YPO Edge Business Conference