07-18-2005, 06:43 PM
<b>'Taj never placed under Waqf by Shah Jahan'</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Giving a literal translation of Abdul Hamid Lahoriâs Badshahnama, the official history of the first two decades of Shah Jahanâs rule, which the Waqf has cited to buttress its claim, Prof Shireen Moosvi said it is not Taj Mahal, the monument but 30 villages and Tajganj that were placed in Waqf.
It was normal practice in the Mughal government to attach villages to particular imperial tombs as Waqf and government officials were appointed to collect the revenues of the villages and bazars so endowed. The money thus collected was to be used for repair of the tombs and the balance amount on salaries of persons employed, Prof Moosvi explained in a statement adding that the percentage of amount to be spent under various heads was to be decided by the ruler from time to time.
Obviously, there was no special âmanagementâ of the Waqfs of villages and shops established for the tombs, separate from the apparatus of the Mughal administration, she says.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Another example of exploitation of local population.
It was normal practice in the Mughal government to attach villages to particular imperial tombs as Waqf and government officials were appointed to collect the revenues of the villages and bazars so endowed. The money thus collected was to be used for repair of the tombs and the balance amount on salaries of persons employed, Prof Moosvi explained in a statement adding that the percentage of amount to be spent under various heads was to be decided by the ruler from time to time.
Obviously, there was no special âmanagementâ of the Waqfs of villages and shops established for the tombs, separate from the apparatus of the Mughal administration, she says.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Another example of exploitation of local population.