RESTORATION OF

JAMA MASJIDALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

By:

MOHAMMAD FARHAN FAZLI

Convener,

Heritage Cell

Aligarh Muslim University

'Nothing is more disgraceful for any nation than to

throw into the oblivion its historical heritage and the

work of its ancestors'.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Jama Masjid is located in the central wing of present

Sir Syed Hall along with other heritage marvels like

Strachey Hall, Nizam Museum & Lytton Library.

Justice Mahmood

laid the foundation

stone of Jama

Masjid in 1879.

Artisan were called

from Delhi &

Ajmer for stone

carving and floral

paintings & designs.

The Mosque was

declared open on

1 February 1915.

The fluted minarets, the onion shaped domes, the

majestic central pishtaq with calligraphic verses from

Holy Quran inlayed in white marble-

enhances the beauty of Jama Masjid.

Single piece screens (Jali) carved in sandstone

enhancing the aesthetics of exterior & interior in the

mosque.

Combination of Arches ranging from multi-

foil, semicircular, segmental, tri-foil, flat, jack

arch and four centered arches augmenting the

beauty of this heritage monument.

Stone carving & cladding, stone inlay of calligraphic

inscriptions are the elements that have been used for

the ornamentation of the façade of mosque.

Ornamental Ceiling, araish plaster with floral design,

calligraphy, gold imitation of floral patterns are

increasing the beauty of the interiors in the mosque.

But with the passage of time this incredible architectural

marvel is getting deteriorated.

The age, weathering and negligence have become the

major source of deterioration. Another problem

associated with this heritage building is the previous

interventions which is due to the lack of knowledge

about the values of heritage.

This resulted in providing the new services in an

improper manner and thereby destroying the aesthetics

and beauty of this incredible building.

This Heritage mosque is very much sound in its

structural stability and it can still withstand for

centuries, the only thing it requires is a regular

maintenance.

Chipping up of Araish Plaster

MAJOR PROBLEMS

Blackening of Araish Plaster

Flaking of Cieling plaster Structural Cracks

Fading of

Calligraphy

Blackening of

Golden design

Dead Araish Plaster due

to dampness.

Improper placement of

modern services

Deteriorating

Stone Inlay

Discoloring of

Stone cladding

Painted glass

& door panels

Splitting of

stone column

ROOF ASSESSMENT

Cracks have been developed all over the roof of the

mosque. To avoid seepage, waterproofing needs to be

done.

CONSERVATION OF JAMA MASJID

The Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin

Shah has constituted a 'Working

Committee' comprising of some of the functionaries of

the university to execute the work.(http://amu.ac.in/pdf/masjid/work_committee.pdf)

Besides, an 'AMU Jama Masjid Conservation

Committee' has been formed which works in

coordination with the existing Working Committee of

the University.(http://amu.ac.in/pdf/masjid/conservation_committee.pdf)

Heritage Cell, Aligarh Muslim University is doing the

overall supervision of the work.(http://www.amu.ac.in/heritage.jsp)

InteriorCleaning of Araish Lime Plaster

Removal of Cement Plaster

Installation of Plastiwood up to four feet height.

Consolidation of damaged Araish work

Removal & repainting of floral gold imitation

Repainting of Calligraphic inscriptions

Removal of paint and polishing of doors & windows

Reinstallation of glass in doors and windows

Replacement of electrical fittings & fixtures

Installation of Public Address system

CONSERVATION PLAN

ExteriorWaterproofing from the roof top

Cleaning of Sand stone

Consolidation of damaged stone

Removal of paint from exposed brick

Repointing of exposed brick work

Repair of inlayed Calligraphy on central pishtaq

Removal of paint and polishing of doors & windows

Reinstallation of glass in doors and windows

Replacement of electrical fittings & fixtures

Installation of Public Address system

Installation of foldable Umbrella in courtyard

CONSERVATION PLAN

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

AfterBefore

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

Domical

Ceiling

Jack Arch

Ceiling

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before Work in progress After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before

Work in progress After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

Before After

CONSERVATION WORKS IN PROGRESS

MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

TENTATIVE ESTIMATE OF THE PROJECT

Conservation Team 6858042

Scaffolding 400000

Chemicals 1800000

Consumables 750000

Documentation 350000

Sundry Consumables 473650

Transportation 200000

Electrical Fittings 2300000

13131692

Contigencies 656584.6

13788276.6One Crore, Thirty Seven Lakh, Eighty Eight

Thousand, Two Hundred Seventy Six only

Rs.

Rs.

Bank Details for Fund Transfer within India:

(i) Account Name : AMU Jama Masjid Conservation Committee

(ii) Account No. : 5247101002800

(iii) Bank Name : Canara Bank, AMU Administrative Blocks

(iv) IFSC Code : CNRB0005247

(v) MICR Code : 202015013

Bank Details for Fund Transfer from Foreign (NRIs):

(i) Account Name : AMU Alumni Fund

(ii) Account No. : 0364101056837

(iii) Bank Name : Canara Bank, AMU Branch, Aligarh

(iv) Branch Code : 5247

(v) IFSC Code : CNRB0005247

(vi) Swift Code : CNRBINBBAOB

Bank Details, in case the Donor is foreign citizen/foreign institutions, the donation can be

received only in ICICI Bank at Aligarh as per following details:

(i) Account Name : Finance Officer, AMU, Aligarh (FCRA)

(ii) Account No. : 032701000350

(iii) Beneficiary Bank Name: ICICI Bank Ltd.

(iv) Branch Address : Gandhi Park Branch (0327), Court of Wards Compound,

Thakur ki Haveli, OppositeGandhi Park, Aligarh-202001 U.P.

(v) Swift Code : ICICINBBCTS

Kindly furnish the following details while transferring money:

(i) Name of Donor.

(ii) Purpose of donation.

ACCOUNT DETAILS

‘Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan,

which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply

many times? And it is Allah that decreases and

increases (your provisions), and unto him you shall

return’.

(Quran2:245)

‘Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build

for him likewise in Paradise’.

(Sahih al- Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)