PRES., SEC., TREASURERS ORGANIZING SECRETARIES FELLOWS & MEMBERS FELLOW/MEMBERSHIP FORM ORATIONS, HONOUR LECTURE GOVERNING BODY ELECTION

AGRA GLORY Taj Mahal was built by a grief stricken Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. A world-renowned wonder, Taj Mahal sits pretty on the northern side of this green paradise. It looks the same from all the four sides! The Quranic inscriptions on its four entrances are carved in such subtle increase in size that may appear to be of the same size from top to bottom! Shahjahan invited master craftsmen from as far as Italy and Persia to help design his ambitious tribute to love. The Taj Mahal is phenomenal not in the beauty alone that shines forth, but in the deep planning and design that went into its making, and the ethereal idea of immortalizing love. Delicate carvings in marble vie with gorgeous pietra dura for attention. Lapis-lazuli, Cornelian, Mother of pearl, Agate and Emerald are inlayed in floral and geometrical patterns in the marble itself. This enchanting mausoleum, on the bank of river Yamuna started in 1631 and it took 22 years to complete with the help of an estimated 20000 workers. A beautiful natural forest cover spread over 70 hectares of area just 500 mtrs away from the eastern gate of Taj Mahal. An excellent view of the Taj can be found from the different mounds of the park. Flora & Funa of different species are found here. The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1666, A.D. although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shahjahan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khaas, Musamman Burj - where Shahjahan died in 1666 A.D. Jahangir's Palace; Khaas Mahal and Shish Mahal. Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi was the Prime Minister of Mughal emperor Shah Jehah and also a famous poet. He composed poetry under the pseudonym of 'Allami'. He took fancy to building his own mausoleum in 1639 with elaborate ornamentation. He chose glazed tiles as his medium to create the masterpiece that would enshrine his tomb forever. Every portion of this unique monument is profusely adorned with bright color schemes, known as 'Chini ka Rauza'. Here, we discuss the general plan and layout of the building and the ornamentation techniques used in the monument in detail. One of the earliest Mughal gardens, believed to be laid out by Mughal Emperor Babur, the founder of Mughal dynasty. It is said that Babur was temporarily buried here before being taken to Kabul in Afganistan. This exquisite marble tomb was made by Emperor Jahangir's queen, Nurjahan , in the memory of her father Mirza Ghias Beg during 1622-1628 A.D. Built entirely in white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones, this mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna River, exhibits a strong Persian influence. Mehtab Bagh is located on the left bank of river Yamuna opposite to the Taj Mahal. The garden complex is a huge square measuring approximately 300m X 300m and in straight alignment with the Taj Mahal. The excavation has revealed a huge octagonal tank on the southern periphery : baradaris or pavilion on the east and west: a small octagonal tank at the center and a gateway at the northern wall. It is a tribute to the founder of Radha Swami faith. Devout followers believe the service, purifies the soul. At soamibagh their services bears fruit in an edifice as spectacular as the Taj Built in white and colored marble, it is continuously being decorated for more than 100 years now with extra-ordinary feast in stone and gems. It is the mausoleum of Emperor Akbar. It represents his philosophy and secular outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures in a superlative fusion. Completed in 1613 A.D., it is one of the well preserved monument. This unique tomb in red sandstone was built in memory of Emperor Akbar's wife Mariyam Zamani. The tomb has some exceptional carvings. The building with rectangular open forecourt was constructed in 1648A.D. by Shahajahan's daughter, Jehanara Begum. Of particular importance is its wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture. This cemetery is situated on the eastern extension of the Mahatma Gandhi Road, near the Civil Court of Agra. It is one of the ancient Christian cemeteries in Agra. The site of the cemetery is a part of the estate granted by Akbar to the Roman Catholic Mission. The cemetery contains tombs of different nationalities. Some are buried under simple tomb stones, while a few have respectable tomb buildings containing their mortal remains. The most prominent tomb of a European at Agra is that of colonel John William Hessing. He was a native of Utrecht in Holland and was born in 1739. He served under the Nizam of Hyderabad and Marathas and died at Agra on 21 July 1803.

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