Today let us discuss about two eternal love stories. One story is based on a rich ruler and the other is based on poor man who lives in poverty- thus he have no fame or never his story went to people. He infact never got any publicity or nobody care to rethink about him.
THE TAJ MAHAL & DASHRAT MAJHI
I KNOW YOU OBVIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT TAJ MAHAL AND ITS BEAUTY. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT THAT IT IS LISTED IN THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD AND HAS A GREAT POPULARITY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER......?? WHAT ABOUT DASRAT MAJHI...??
suppose if i ask you to think of an individual who is an greatest donater to mankind, society or for the sake of other human being, i am pretty much sure that you will be thinking of any millionaire or billionaire... and his million dollar donation or maybe of any donater who donated for oldage homes, orphanage etc. or maybe you are thinking of someone who donated millions on any charity or in the name of god etc etc....
But what if i say that today i will be telling you a story of a man who did something, that no other men in the world could even dare to think also. Its something that you cant even imagine to do and most importantly it was did for the sake of helping others, humanity & love. Now maybe you are getting a bit interested here, hmmm what if i say that the man i am talking about is not a millionaire but a poor labour... who hardly earns his 2 times meal...
After reading this i am sure that you will be forced to change your view. SO lets begin with the world famous taj mahal.
TAJ MAHAL
The Taj Mahal (/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/ often /ˈtɑːʒ/;, from Persian and Arabic, "crown of palaces", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj" is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages were chosen by Amanat Khan.
The texts refer to themes of judgment and include:
Surah 36 – Ya Sin
Surah 39 – Az-Zumar The Crowds
Surah 48 – Al-Fath Victory
Surah 67 – Al-Mulk Dominion
Surah 77 – Al-Mursalat Those Sent Forth
Surah 81 – At-Takwir The Folding Up
Surah 82 – Al-Infitar The Cleaving Asunder
Surah 84 – Al-Inshiqaq The Rending Asunder
Surah 89 – Al-Fajr Daybreak
Surah 91 – Ash-Shams The Sun
Surah 93 – Ad-Dhuha Morning Light
Surah 94 – Al-Inshirah The Solace
Surah 95 – At-Teen The Fig
Surah 98 – Al-Bayyinah The Evidence
Surah 112 – Al-Ikhlas The Purity of Faith
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves. Hence, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were put in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise centre of the inner chamber on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 by 2.5 metres (4 ft 11 in by 8 ft 2 in).
Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side, and is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on a slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box.
The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating the caskets of men and women respectively. The Ninety Nine Names of God are found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He travelled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."
NOW SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TAJ MAHAL WHICH IS KNOWN BY LESS PEOPLE OR WE NEVER FOCUSED ON SUCH FACTS. LET US READ IT.
Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land.
An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and levelled at 50 metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle.
According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometre (9.3 mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of the complex.
Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab,jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit.
Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
Ismail Afandi (a.k.a. Ismail Khan) - had previously worked for the Ottoman Sultan and is regarded by some as the designer of the main dome.
Ustad Isa, born either in Shiraz, Ottoman Empire or Agra – credited with a key role in the architectural design and main dome.
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia – has been mentioned as a supervising architect.
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore – cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi – the chief sculptor and mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran – the chief calligrapher.
Muhammad Hanif – a supervisor of masons.
Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz – handled finances and management of daily production.
Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
Ismail Afandi (a.k.a. Ismail Khan) - had previously worked for the Ottoman Sultan and is regarded by some as the designer of the main dome.
Ustad Isa, born either in Shiraz, Ottoman Empire or Agra – credited with a key role in the architectural design and main dome.
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia – has been mentioned as a supervising architect.
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore – cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi – the chief sculptor and mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran – the chief calligrapher.
Muhammad Hanif – a supervisor of masons.
Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz – handled finances and management of daily production.
NOW SOME MORE INTERESTING FACTS TO KNOW. LETS READ.
Shah Jahan (January 1592 – 22 January 1666) was the fifth Mughal Emperor of India.
Born as Prince Khurram, he was the son of Emperor Jahangir and his Hindu Rajput wife, Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani (13 May 1573 – 18 April 1619). While young, Khurram was the favourite of his legendary grandfather, the third Mughal emperor Akbar.
Unlike his father and his grandfather, Shah Jahan was a pious Muslim. Upon his accession, he adopted new policies which steadfastly reversed Akbar's generally liberal treatment of non-Muslims. In 1633, his sixth regnal year, Shah Jahan began to impose Sharia provisions against construction or repair of churches and temples and subsequently ordered the demolitions of newly built Hindu temples. He celebrated Islamic festivals with great pomp and grandeur and with an enthusiasm unfamiliar to his predecessors. Long-dormant royal interest in the Holy Cities also revived during his reign.
Born on 5 January 1592, Shah ab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram which was Shah Jahan's birth name, was the third son born to Emperor Jahangir, his mother was a Rajput princess from Marwar called Princess Manmati – her official name in Mughal chronicles being Bilquis Makani.
In 1607, shah jahan was engaged to Arjumand Banu Begum – when they were 15 and 14 years old, respectively.
WIVES OF SHAH JAHAN:
Akbarabadi Mahal (d. 1677),
Kandahari Mahal (b. 1594,
m. 1609) Mumtaz Mahal (b. 1593, m. 1612, d. 1631),
Hasina Begum Sahiba (m. 1617),
Muti Begum Sahiba, Qudsia Begum Sahiba, Fatehpuri Mahal, Sahiba (d. after 1666),
Sarhindi Begum Sahiba (d. after 1650),
Shrimati Manbhavathi Baiji Lal,Sahiba (m. 1626)
SHAH JAHAN & MUMTAZ HAD fourteen children, out of whom 7 survived into adulthood. In addition, Khurram had two children from his first two wives.
Mumtaz Mahal died, aged 40, while giving birth to Gauhara Begum in Burhanpur (THEIR 14TH CHILD), the cause of death being Postpartum hemorrhage, which caused considerable blood-loss after a painful labour of thirty hours.
Contemporary historians note that Princess Jahanara, aged 17, was so distressed by her mother's pain that she started distributing gems to the poor, hoping for divine intervention.
Her death had a profound impact on Shah Jahan's personality and inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, where she was later reburied.
AFTER MUMTAZ DIED, The intervening years had seen SHAH JAHAN take two other wives, Akbarabadi Mahal (d.1677), and Kandahari Mahal (b. c1594), (m.1609).
Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his OWN son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the mausoleum next to his wife.
The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200,000 from overseas.
A two tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for foreigners.
Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll with 100 million votes.
Entrance Fee:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs. 10 per head.
Others:
Rs. 250/- per head (ASI);
Rs. 500/- per head as Toll Tax (Agra Development Authority)
Rs. 500/- ticket of ADA is valid for the monuments of Agra Fort, Itimadi-ud-daula, Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandara and Fatehpur Sikri
(children up to 15 years free)
Fee for night viewing
Citizens of India
The night viewing tickets of Taj Mahal can be purchased from the Booking Counter located in the office of Archaeological Survey of India, Agra Circle, 22 The Mall, Agra, Uttar Pradesh in between 10-00 am to 6-00 p.m. one day in advance of the date of night viewing. The night viewing ticket can be cancelled in the Booking counter of ASI at 22 The Mall, Agra on the same date of viewing upto 1.00 p.m.with cancellation charge of 25% of the ticket.
Rate of Night Viewing Ticket: Indian (Adult)- Rs 510/-; Foreigner (Adult)- Rs 750/- and Children ( 3Yrs to 15 Years age)- Rs. 500/-.
WOW... ISN'T THAT GREAT. I KNOW YOU LOVE WHAT YOU READ.
ANYWAYS OTHER LINKS TO READ IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAJ MAHAL.
http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/shah_jahan.html
http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp
http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp
http://www.nation.com.pk/columns/02-Nov-2013/it-was-never-love
http://www.qatarliving.com/qatar-living-lounge/posts/mumtaj-mahal-amazing-facts
ANYWAYS LETS MOVE FURTHER AND READ OUR NEXT LOVE STORY.
DASRAT MAJHI
THE LOVE STORY OF THE POOR.
FEW THINGS ARE SAME AS DASRAT MAJHI'S WIFE ALSO DIED AND HE DID SOMETHING FOR HIS WIFE AND CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MILLIONS. THIS POOR MAN DOESN'T HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A TAJ MAHAL IN THE MEMORY OF HER LOVING WIFE. IN FACT HE DID SOMETHING.... THAT NO MAN COULD EVEN THINK HE CAN ABLE TO DO. LETS READ...
Dashrath Manjhi (c. 1934 – 17 August 2007) was born into a poor labourer family in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar, India. He is known as "Mountain Man" for CARVING a PATH through a MOUNTAIN in the Gehlour hills so that his village could have easier access to medical attention after his wife died from a lack thereof.
Dashrath Majhi carved a path 360-foot-long (110 m) through-cut, 25-foot-deep (7.6 m) in places and 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) to form a road through a mountain in the Gehlour hills, working day and night for 22 years from 1960 to 1982.
His feat reduced the distance between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of the Gaya district from 70 km to 15 km, bringing him national acclaim. Although, one would expect people to jump in and help someone working for the entire community, but at first, people ridiculed him and called him mad for taking such a herculean task. This strengthened his resolve; ” When I started hammering the hill, people called me a lunatic but that steeled my resolve“. but as time went by, the unfazed farmer continued to split the troublesome hill in half, he started getting some help. "Though most villagers taunted me at first, there were quite a few who lent me support later by giving me food and helping me buy my tools," he remembered. Now all the people of Gaya district have nothing but gratitude of the "Mountain Man" who single-handedly made their lives so much easier.
For his glorious feat, this Bihari old man became popularly known as the 'Mountain Man', but he died on 17 August 2007 at the age of 80, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The mountain man was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar. Later, Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar proposed to build a 3 km metalled road from Gahlaur to Amethi, naming the project as Dasrath Manjhi Road. A hospital in his name is also proposed for serving the villagers.
For his glorious feat, this Bihari old man became popularly known as the 'Mountain Man', but he died on 17 August 2007 at the age of 80, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The mountain man was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar. Later, Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar proposed to build a 3 km metalled road from Gahlaur to Amethi, naming the project as Dasrath Manjhi Road. A hospital in his name is also proposed for serving the villagers.
Noted filmmaker Ketan Mehta portrayed this mountain man Dashrath Manjhi as the poor man's Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal). The Bihar government also proposed Dashrath Manjhi's name for the Padma Shree award in 2006 in social service sector.
In July 2010, director Manish Jha announced a film, Manjhi, based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi. Dashrath Manjhi while on his deathbed, in ICU, had put his thumb impression on an agreement, giving away "exclusive rights" to make a film on his life. The film is produced by Sanjay Singh, who previously produced Udaan (2010).
In July 2010, director Manish Jha announced a film, Manjhi, based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi. Dashrath Manjhi while on his deathbed, in ICU, had put his thumb impression on an agreement, giving away "exclusive rights" to make a film on his life. The film is produced by Sanjay Singh, who previously produced Udaan (2010).
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been cast in the lead role in the film 'Mountain Man', which is based on Manjhi's life. In Olave Mandara, a Kannada film by Jayatheertha, Manjhi's deeds are referred to in the story, which inspires the young hero's love.
The First Episode of Season 2 of Aamir Khan hosted TV Show Satyamev Jayate, aired in March 2014, was dedicated to Dashrath Manjhi. Aamir Khan, who visited Gehlaur in Gaya district on Tuesday to pay homage to Dashrath Manjhi (also known as the Mountain Man) said he was truly inspired and moved by Manjhi's achievement. "I am trying to be like him (Dashrath Manjhi). He has shown that nothing is impossible. His story is one of conviction and courage. I draw immense inspiration from him."
He also met Bhagirath Manjhi and Basanti Devi, son and daughter-in-law of a man who single-handedly carved a mountain were in deep poverty. Aamir Khan and Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, former MP came forward to provide financial help to Bhagirath and Basanti. Pappu Yadav provided Rs.100,000 lakh in cash to them and also promised to provide Rs.10,000 every month. He said monthly financial help would be provided to Bhagirath and Basanti by Maa Maati, the voluntary organisation of his wife Ranjita Ranjan, also a former MP.
He also met Bhagirath Manjhi and Basanti Devi, son and daughter-in-law of a man who single-handedly carved a mountain were in deep poverty. Aamir Khan and Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, former MP came forward to provide financial help to Bhagirath and Basanti. Pappu Yadav provided Rs.100,000 lakh in cash to them and also promised to provide Rs.10,000 every month. He said monthly financial help would be provided to Bhagirath and Basanti by Maa Maati, the voluntary organisation of his wife Ranjita Ranjan, also a former MP.
THIS IS WHAT I CALL A PERFECT LOVE STORY. NOT ONLY HE SHOWN HIS TRUE LOVE & FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS HIS WIFE, HE ALSO TRIED TO HELP MANKIND. THIS IS CALLED HUMANITY... A GOLDEN HEART OF AN INDIAN, A TRUE HINDU, whose act of courage and determination will inspire generations to come..
LETS SALUTE THIS MAN.
ANYWAYS ITS UPTO YOU GUYS TO CHOOSE THE BETTER LOVE STORY. AND ALSO IT PROVED THAT THERE IS NO FAME FOR POOR NO MATTER HOW BIG EXAMPLES HE SET. I THINK THIS IS THE REAL WONDER OF THE WORLD.
DON'T YOU THINK SO?
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS.
LINKS TO READ:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manjhi:_The_Mountain_Man
http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/ketan-mehta-manjhi-the-mountain-man-a-ray-of-hope-in-cynical-times-408069
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Dashrath-Manjhi-portrayed-as-poor-mans-Shah-Jahan-in-Ketan-Mehtas-film/articleshow/17149850.cms?referral=PM
http://www.tehelka.com/the-poor-mans-taj/
http://www.successstories.co.in/dashrath-manjhi-the-man-who-moved-a-mountain/
http://www.india.com/showbiz/satyamev-jayate-2-aamir-khan-visits-mountain-man-dashrath-manjhis-village-16714/
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-power-of-one-can-move-a-mountain-literally/article3700230.ece
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihar-gaya-man-singlehandedly-manages-to-pave-way-through-a-mountain/382828-3-232.html
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