For every couple, the Taj Mahal is the epitome of true and eternal love. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the pristine white mausoleum in Agra in the fond memory of his dead wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The beautiful Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World! He set an example of true and passionate love for generations to come. Several girls have wished for a man who would build something as beautiful as the Taj Mahal in her fond memory.
This man has recreated history. Faizul Hasan Quadri, 80 years old, a retired postmaster from a small village in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh has built the replica of the Taj Mahal in the memory of his deceased wife, Tajammuli Begum. Romantic and heart-touching, isn’t it?
Take a look at this beautiful video that will make your belief in love stronger!
The couple got married in 1953 in a traditional Muslim nikah. They had no children as Tajammuli Begum got her uterus removed due to a chance of cancer. Although his sister insisted many times for him to remarry for kids, he never remarried, as for him Tajammuli Begum was his perfect soulmate.
His beloved wife died after 58 years of their blissful marriage due to throat cancer, in 2011.
Quadri decided to make a replica of the Taj Mahal to embody his love for his wife. He spent all his savings on the construction of the mini Taj Mahal. He sold a piece of land, his wife’s jewelry, and a few more savings to meet the cost of constructing the structure.
He said:
“Initially, I sold a piece of land for Rs 6 lakh and my wife’s gold and silver jewellery for Rs 1.5 lakh and got the ‘makbara‘ (mausoleum) constructed with the help of a local mason named Asgar. A total of Rs 11 lakh was spent, but now I have to get marble studded on the monument and also to build a lush green park around it, both of which is likely to cost me another Rs 6-7 lakh,”
Three years after he started building the mini Taj, the construction came to a halt as there was no money left. He did not want to ask for any money from anyone to complete the most treasured gift for his late wife.
He added:
“Asgar prepared the dome and constructed the fourminars around the central building, which is a little more than 27-feet in height. The structure is built on my own land and I have also tried to plant some trees around it and have a small water body at the back side of the building. However, work has mostly been held up due to finances as marble costs are high. A number of people have offered me money that I have refused to accept so far. This is my personal endeavour for my late wife and embodies my love for her. So I should do this on my own.”
After knowing about this man’s story and love for his late wife, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav called Quadri in Lucknow for a meeting, to help him financially, to fulfill his dream!
Here is what the old man had to say before meeting Mr. Yadav:
“I will go to meet him (Akhilesh Yadav) and will request him to get my village school recognized by the education board rather.”
The old man was also felicitated last year by the Chief Minister, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, and on his request, the CM promised to release funds for the development of his village on an urgent basis.
When asked where the idea of making a replica of Taj Mahal came, this is what he said:
“The doctors initially treated my wife for an ear ailment and could not find any traces of throat cancer. Later I took her to Aligarh Medical College where the doctors told me that she was suffering from throat cancer and had no strength to bear the effects of chemotherapy. We moved in to a plot of agricultural land outside the village. I got a new house constructed for her. Once we were thinking that will anyone remember us after we died! From that, the idea of constructing the monument came.”
He summed up his story with these beautiful lines:
“I have told my brother to bury me here by the side of my wife. I have deposited the fees with the Wakf board also. Everything that comes has to go away some day. My wife is dead. I will also die someday. The monument too might not stand forever. I just wish to see it complete before I die.”
If this is not true love, then what else is? His beautiful love story can move anyone to tears. This old man is a living legend.
