City anchor: ASI lifeline for decaying tomb of Akbar’s general

Like many relics of the past, the tomb of Akbar's famous general and poet Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khanan in the city's upscale Nizamuddin East area has been wallowing in neglect after losing its sheen to centuries of vandalism.

Known simply as Rahim, the name that appears in the dohas (couplets) that he composed, the Mughal general built this monument for his wife (who died in 1598) on the lines of Humayun's tomb. But, as fate would have it, this became his final resting place after his death in 1627.

White marble once covered the central dome and four octagonal chattris (canopies) at each corner. Most of the marble tiles were stripped and used at the tomb of Safdarjung in Lodi Garden.

Today, signs of vandalism can be seen in every nook and cranny of the Khan-e-Khanan's (general) tomb. Its large dome lies exposed and poke-marked - with small marble strips camouflaged in the beige and red sandstone masonry.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) could soon throw a lifeline to revive the tomb's lost glory. The ASI's Delhi circle superintending archaeologist, D N Dimri, on Tuesday said: "There is a proposal to renovate parts of the monument. We are waiting for funds to start work."

No new marble stone will be put in the missing portions during the conservation project. "The missing stones are part of its history. We will not interfere with history," Dimri said.

"Work will be limited to stones which are bulging out, and those that have developed cracks or are broken. There are sections on the verge of collapse," he said.

The cenotaph of Rahim is in the central chamber of the tomb. At present, a garden surrounds the monument. It is not known if it was ever surrounded by walled garden.

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