Locals bring Nila Gumbad back to life

NEW DELHI: Conservation work on the 16th-century Nila Gumbad near Humayun’s Tomb complex holds special meaning for people living in the nearby Nizamuddin Basti. The tiles missing from the dome will be replaced by those made by youths from the basti trained by craftsmen from Uzbekistan.
Work at the Humayun’s Tomb complex and adjoining monuments was taken up a few months ago by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).The protected monuments in the area come under the purview of Archaeological Survey of India.
Nila Gumbad is one of the integral components of the redevelopment plans for the Humayun’s Tomb complex. “Work on the Nila Gumbad is almost complete. Nearly 15,000 tiles (almost 10%) were missing. The tile manufacturing unit at Nizamuddin Basti has been scaled up to meet the requirement. Master craftsmen from Uzbekistan have taught youths from the basti to make tiles exactly like those used by the Mughals,” said Rajpal Singh, chief engineer, AKTC.
The conservation work is being implemented by a multi-disciplinary team of AKTC, with co-funding from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Post conservation, plans to integrate the monument with the Humayun’s Tomb world heritage complex remain uncertain, despite talks with Northern Railway going on for a few months now. “Northern Railway has not permitted implementation of a landscape plan agreed to in writing in 2011. They also need to demolish a room which stands in the way of integrating the monument,” an official said.
In 2008, ASI had uncovered arcaded platform stretches near Nila Gumbad, which proved the monument was originally part of the Humayun’s Tomb complex. Millions of visitors who come to see Humayun’s Tomb do not get the chance to explore the Nila Gumbad which encompasses Persian influence on Mughal architecture and is unique for its tile work.
Conservation work for Nila Gumbad are based on exhaustive documentation and an enhanced understanding of the structure, which is the earliest Mughal-era building in Delhi. Sandstone jallies, which were removed sometime in the 20th century, will also be restored. Major cement plastering on the interior and exterior surfaces carried out in past repair works is being carefully removed and replaced with traditional lime plaster.