An octogenarian retired postman of Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh, who was known as “Modern-day Shah Jahan” for building a replica of Taj Mahal for his late wife from his life’s savings, died at a health facility in Aligarh on Friday (Nov 9).
Faizul Hasan Qadri, an 82-year government employee, died after he was hit by a motor bike. He will be buried next to his beloved wife Tajamulli Begum on the monument premises he built as a testimony to their love, The Times of India reported on Saturday.
The cement and brick structure built by Qadri may boast of none of the grandeur of white marble counterpart, but the lack of lustre is made up for the intent.
The love story that inspired it is no less tragic than the one behind the original mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Qadri lost his wife of 57 years, Tajamulli Begum, to throat cancer in 2011. Tajamulli’s tomb lies inside the main building and next to it, Qadri had dug his own grave where he will now be laid to eternal rest.
Qadri, who had no children, had donated four bighas of land to UP government for construction of a girl’s college near his main Taj.
Talking to Times of India in 2015, Qadri said, “I am scripting a poor man’s love story. I don’t know whether my Taj Mahal will be as famous as Shah Jahan’s but I know that people can see it for free”.
Qadri had entrusted the mini Taj to the care of Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf board, the paper reported.