In-line with the vision of reviving heritage monuments in the country, InterGlobe Foundation and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) announced the completion of restoration work on Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan’s tomb in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi. Along with physical restoration of the tomb, the project also undertook cultural revival of Rahim and his poetry. Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the monument, was a key supporter and partner in the project, which started in 2014.
Commenting on the project, Rohini Bhatia, chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, “In addition to physical restoration, we are also establishing the relevance of sites and creating awareness among communities towards the need for preservation of culture and heritage. At InterGlobe Foundation, we strive to conserve the cultural heritage of our nation. Through restoration projects like Rahim’s tomb in Delhi and Indra Kund stepwell in Rajasthan, InterGlobe Foundation has impacted thousands of lives while successfully preserving the historical and cultural values that bind us as a nation.”
Ratish Nanda, CEO, AKTC, added, “Conservation at Rahim’s tomb has been possible with a public-private partnership. Not only has a significant monument been conserved for posterity but dignity has been restored to the resting place of the cultural icon Rahim. Conservation in the Indian context can benefit from thousands of years of building craft traditions and recourse to an interdisciplinary scientific approach. 1,75,000 craft days of work has helped restore this grandeur.”
InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) is supporting the future operation and maintenance of the tomb, where the focus will be to enhance the visitor experience. The completion ceremony of Rahim’s tomb was presided over by Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel on December 17, on Rahim’s birth anniversary.
