Taj Mahal artisans give a Midas touch to Residency

Lucknow: Ever wonder what gives a perennial appeal to Taj Mahal? Throw this question to Mohd Idiris, an artisan, who has grown up polishing marble in the monument of love for Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
"Its connection with the delicate and intricate feelings of love," is what he says as his fingers work effortlessly to fix pieces of stone and create a section of Taj Mahal's exquisite inlay work at Lucknow's Residency.
Idiris and his team of 10 persons is in the city to fix a fountain inside the building, which has witnessed the bravery of hundreds of civilians, who rose against the British Raj in 1857.
"The fountain was the main attraction of the main hall of Residency building. It was ruined during the war of 1857," said Navratna Kumar Pathak, superintending archaeologist, ASI's Lucknow circle. Residency is being developed under the national model monument scheme. It is poised to become a world-class heritage building.
Historians believe that the fountain area was used for 'drawing in' towards the main hall for purpose of parties and meetings. The hall area, where the fountain is located, is prominent spot for visitors even today.
"Most tourists prefer to sit here and spend time. But its broken sections were an eyesore in the maintained monument," said Arjun Singh, the caretaker of the building.
Talking to TOI on Friday, Idiris said that the inlay work in residency's fountain is same as that in the Taj Mahal when evaluated in terms of technique.
However, the design of motifs is different.