Mughal
architecture is synonymous with the terms grandeur and masterpiece. There is
little doubt in anyone’s mind that the monuments and buildings created during
the Mughal dynasty have a deep cultural and historical significance to India.
The great stories and secrets behind the development of these marvelous monuments
always generate a curiosity amongst the people. Humayun’s tomb is one of the
greatest creations during the Mughal era and also the one that people know very
less about. It’s time to know all about it as Discovery channel brings ‘Revealed:
Humayun’s Tomb’ – a special show that explore the secrets of this great Mughal
monument while narrating the life and times of Humayun’s dynasty.
With the usage of dramatic
re-enactment and amazing CGI animation, the show takes the viewers into
the Mughal era and witnesses key characters and important moments in the
history. Going back as far as the ascendants of Mughals namely Genghis Khan and
Timur, the show traverses the Mughal family tree till the coronation of
a young Akbar the Great. Big secrets unfolds like why Humayun’s tomb was made,
what was the concept behind this kind of architecture and who are the key
people involved in it’s designing. The historical re-creations feels so real
that viewers will automatically feel surrounded by the Mughal era.
The programme also
follows the restoration work undertaken by Aga Khan Trust for Culture that gave
new life to a near ruined monument. It is also the first privately funded
restoration of any historical monument in India. The hard work done by the restoration
team in bringing the monument to it’s present day condition is aptly visible in
the show. Ratish Nanda, a noted conservation architect and restoration project
director talks about how the project got restored under master craftsmen who
worked with complete dedication to restore the splendor of the first monumental
mausoleum of India.
It’s unfortunate
that in India, we never realize the importance of these monuments of heritage and
we keep on ignoring their significance. All we can hope is that more restoration
initiatives of these kinds will be visible in future.
Watch ‘Revealed: Humayun’s Tomb’, premiering on the 27th July,
Monday 9PM, only on Discovery Channel.
