Ali Abbas Ahmadi visits the Paigah Tombs of Hyderabad
After offering his prayers each morning, Rahmatullah settles down among the arched alcoves of the Paigah complex with a cup of chai beside him and a newspaper in hand, waiting for any stray visitors to wander in.
From the outside, the crumbling gateway gives no hint of the opulence that lies just beyond. Of all Hyderabad’s historic monuments, the Paigah tombs are arguably the most impressive. Built as a final resting place for members of one of Hyderabad’s most prominent families, the complex is an amalgamation of several different architectural styles decorated with exquisite perforated screens (jaalis), carved into intricate geometric and floral patterns.
Architecturally influenced by several distinct styles, including that of the Turks, the Rajputs, the Mughals, and the Qutb Shahi kingdom that ruled from Hyderabad, the Paigah tombs are a wonder to behold.
“As you enter the complex and see the mosque, you feel as if you’re in the Qutb Shahi period,” says Rahmatullah, who’s been the caretaker of this complex since 1974. “But then walk into the tombs, and you could be in Istanbul, or in Rajasthan.”
The complex exudes refinement through the intricate lime and mortar jaalis, which, artfully juxtaposed with marble from the same quarry as the Taj Mahal, turn it into a gleaming oasis in the middle of Hyderabad’s haphazard urban jungle. While the city is just another metropolis in India today, it was the seat of power of what became Hyderabad State in the early 16th century, one of the wealthiest kingdoms anywhere in the world.
The Paigahs were one of the most important noble families in Hyderabad till India’s independence. Fiercely loyal to the Nizams, the rulers of Hyderabad State, the Paigahs helped ensure its continued prosperity for nearly 300 years.
The family was founded by Abul Fateh Khan, a soldier and bodyguard of the second Nizam who was said to be a descendant of Umar ibn Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam. Khan was renowned for his strength and size, and had a reputation as a fearsome warrior. He was given the title Shams ul Umra, or the ’Sun among the Nobles,’ a title which today lends its name to the complex.
The family rose in prominence over the centuries, becoming prime ministers, advisors, and military generals who were the right hand of the rulers of what was once the richest state in the world. Successive generations of Paigahs married into the Nizam’s family, and their strong relationship ensured the continued prosperity of the state.
Even today, there are neighbourhoods in Hyderabad named after the Paigahs. For instance, Shamshabad, where the city’s international airport is located, is named after Shams ul Umra.
In a city like Hyderabad that is brimming with history, the Paigah tombs are a relatively unknown gem. Hundreds of visitors flock to Hyderabad’s Old City each day for a glimpse of the Charminar, snapping selfies from every angle. But just four kilometres away, the Paigah tombs attract only one or two people a day. Most people seem to prefer the tried and tested tourist spots to walking through a maze of alleyways to find the complex.
The few who do make the journey through the narrow bylanes are greeted with the sight of a glistening white monument flanked by old mango and badam trees. The most famous and the best preserved tombs are part of the Maqbara Shams-ul-Umra, and sit upon a raised platform. The other graves around it might be crumbling or poorly restored, but this section remains, in its awe-inspiring glory.
It’s where they often find Rahmatullah, sitting on a carpet in one of the corridors, always ready to greet visitors with a smile and a line or two of poetry. He expertly guides them around the complex, explaining each artistic feature and what it symbolises- like the large, intricately carved piece of jade on the tomb of Sir Asman Jah, which is believed to protect it from lightning strikes. Or the ostrich egg hanging over the grave of the former prime minister of Hyderabad, Muhammad Fakhruddin Khan Bahadur, indicating his Sufi practice. Or that the tomb of Hussain un Nissa, a daughter of the fifth Nizam is a copy of Mumtaz Mahal’s in the Taj, once inlaid with rubies, emeralds and precious stones before they were dug out by thieves.
One room Rahmatullah makes sure to point out, is that which houses three graves known as the ‘Lateef Unnisa tombs.’ While the graves in this chamber are relatively plain, the room itself is stunning – intricate jaalis flank each doorway, surrounded by panels of stucco carved in the shape of flowers and bouquets. A delicate frieze carved with a design to imitate pineapples, a symbol of wealth and rarity in this part of the world, runs around the top of the room before the ornamentation breaks into a row of arches that gently merge with the sky. “Lateef Unnisa was an exceedingly beautiful woman, it is said,” says Rahmatullah. “So her final resting place also had to be exceedingly beautiful.”
None of this would have remained if it weren’t for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), says Rahmatullah. Even though the organization is much maligned for their poor work at other heritage sites, Rahmatullah credits the ASI’s interest in this complex for its survival. When they labelled the Paigah tombs as a heritage monument in 1990, the ASI’s renovation department repaired the leaking roofs and lime flooring that had been damaged by the elements. Being around the architects and workmen, Rahmatullah quickly picked up many aspects of the conservation process.
“There was this director of the ASI called VV Krishna Shastri, who was very fond of me,” says Rahmatullah. “He used to tell his engineers that anything you do, you do it under his [Rahmatullah’s] supervision.”
But there is still a lot to be done. There are dozens of tombs on either side of the main monument that are falling to bits. The Aga Khan Trust, which is responsible for the brilliant renovation of Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi, is apparently due to begin work to renovate the tombs here as well.
Rahmatullah will undoubtedly be around to supervise the architects, engineers and craftsmen who are to come. He always has been. “One day my sons and grandsons will take over from me,” he says, and adds with a smile, “I am
joined to the monument.”
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