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| 18th century tomb to get a facelift |
| BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad Aug 21, 2010, 00:47 IST |
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The tomb and garden of the 18th century poet and courtesan Maha Laqa Bai (also known as Chanda Bibi), one of the most illustrious women of Hyderabad’s cultural history, is set to get a makeover.
The Nizam’s Trust, and Hyderabad organisations MESCO (Muslim Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation) and the Centre for Deccan Studies have joined hands to restore the property with an outlay of ' 50 lakh provided by the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Tucked inside the Moula Ali area in Hyderabad, the legacy of Chanda Bibi, who stands as an epitome of women power even today, is in a sad state. Chanda Bibi, who died in 1824 after leading an exemplary life as the court dancer for the second and third Nizams, is also the first women to author a full collection of Urdu ghazals.
“We have already accomplished the stabilisation of the walls. Still to be completed is repair of two step wells and laying out the garden. We hope to complete the project before the end of the year,” says Nitin, consultant architect at city-based restoration architects Heritage Initiative Consultants,that has under-taken the renovation work.
Besides the restoration, the renovation team is currently exhibiting 17 panels that present the story of Chanda Bibi’s life and cultural legacy, including poetry, paintings, maps, architecture and religious sites associated with her, which will be permanently housed at the tomb and garden, once the restoration of the site is complete.
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