Delhi’s Fatehpuri Masjid to undergo much needed restoration soon

The 17th century Fatehpuri Masjid, located at one end of Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, is all set to get some much needed and long overdue care and attention, with the Delhi Waqf Board (DWB) planning to enlist the help of heritage experts to spruce up the historical mosque

The 17th century Fatehpuri Masjid, located at one end of Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, is all set to get some much needed and long overdue care and attention, with the Delhi Waqf Board (DWB) planning to enlist the help of heritage experts to spruce up the historical mosque.

HT Image

Built in the 1650s by Fathehpuri Begum, a queen of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, the over 300-year-old red sandstone mosque has not seen any major conservation efforts in the past 50-odd years.

Last month, Hindustan Times had reported about the deteriorating condition of the mosque and the significant damage it has sustained; one of its flanking minarets is visibly leaning towards one side while the other minaret as well the fluted dome have been ravaged by time.

Mehfooz Mohammad, section officer, DWB, said Waqf board chairman MLA Amanatullah Khan along with the conservation experts visited the mosque last Thursday to assess its condition.

“The conservation team that repaired Jama Masjid’s finial last month, after it collapsed in a rainstorm in May, visited Fatehpuri Masjid last week. We have asked them to carry out an assessment and give us an estimate about the work that needs to be done on Fatehpuri mosque. Board chairman Amanatullah Khan has asked the firm to give us a cost estimate along with the time it will take to carry out the conservation work,” said Mohammad.

He said the waqf board was committed to the conservation of the historic mosque, located on one end of the famed Chandi Chowk, and will make efforts to ensure that the work is initiated at the earliest.

“We have asked the team to create a conservation road map keeping in mind that the originality of the mosque, which needs to be retained. It is crucial that conservation norms are followed to maintain the beauty of the mosque,” said Mohammad.

Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, the shahi imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, said while stopgap measures and routine repair work were carried out by the board recently, comprehensive conservation efforts were needed to preserve the mosque, whose facade is reminiscent of the red sandstone mosque flanking the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The mosque’s minarets were in particular need of attention since their foundation had weakened over the years, he said.

“The minarets have been bearing the weight of the huge slabs of red sandstone for the past several centuries. From the foundation of the minaret to its pinnacle, the entire structure needs urgent attention. The issue of water seepage in the ceiling also needs to be addressed. We are hopeful that the waqf board will pay attention to this cause,” said Ahmed.

NK Bhardwaj, a former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) engineer, and director of Shakti Heritage Conservators Private Limited, the firm that has been asked to prepare a conservation plan for Fatehpuri Masjid, said the mosque was not in a good shape. “The minaret is in dire need of repairs. Any untoward accident can take place if the repairs are not carried out. We have advised the waqf board to take conservation efforts so that the original beauty of the mosque is maintained. Once the paperwork is completed, we will give them our estimates,” said Bhardwaj.

Shamsher Khan, a former ASI foreman, who works with the firm, said both minarets of the mosque are heavily damaged. Khan said the Lakhori brick foundation of the minarets has weakened over time. “The minarets are heavily damaged. They will have to be reconstructed. We have been asked to provide an estimate for the conservation work on the mosque,” said Khan.

Historian and author Swapna Liddle said Fatehpuri Masjid was an impressive heritage structure of Chandni Chowk and it could benefit from timely conservation efforts. Advocating for a comprehensive assessment of the mosque, she said the concerns related to the minaret must be addressed immediately.

“It’s crucial to look after and address immediate concerns but at the same time, a proper assessment of the whole building is also important. Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to the upkeep of historically important monuments,” said Liddle.