Delhiwale: The mystery of the ‘grave next door’

Next to the grave of Delhi’s first woman emperor, Razia Sultan, is a crypt. We can’t say for sure who lies there. It’s a historic puzzle.

Our city has seen invasions, civil wars, slaughter, riots and murders of kings, princes and ministers. Delhi neighbourhoods are littered with souvenirs of that past. Frustratingly, many of these monuments have lost the stories of their origins.

Razia Sultan’s grave in old Delhi’s cramped Bulbuli Khana. (Mayank Austen Soofi / HT Photo)

Take Razia Sultan’s desolate grave in old Delhi’s cramped Bulbuli Khana. The first and the last woman emperor of the Delhi Sultanate is only “said to be” buried here — declares the authoritative Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a slab put outside the memorial. As if this uncertainty isn’t enough, we have two graves here and ASI is conveniently silent on which one is “said to be” Razia’s.

Whose is the other grave?

The mausoleum also doubles up as a mosque. Its imam tells us confidently that the other grave is of Yaqut, whom he describes as “her secretary”. (Yaqut was depicted as Razia’s lover in a 1983 Hindi film.)

Let’s face it, we will never know the identity of the second grave, nor will be ever be certain if Razia Sultan is actually buried here.

However, the aforementioned ASI slab — inscribed with the story of how the 13-century empress died fighting in a rebellion — does make us feel connected to the queen. What are we supposed to feel for the other grave — its secret buried forever? Even so, standing close to an unsolvable historical puzzle is thrilling.