Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
The Moorish Mosque of Kapurthala is unique in several ways and
needs more awareness about its history and features among Muslims as a symbol
of harmony. The Masjid is designed on the pattern of grand Mosque of Marrakesh in
Morocco and was commissioned by the last ruler of Kapurthala State Maharajah
Jagatjit Singh. Considered to be one of the most in South Asia,the ruler
had facilitated its construction to please his Muslim subjects ,constituting about
60 per cent of the total population of
the princely state.
Maharaja’s penchant for
social integration could be gauge from his reply to the then Viceroy questioned
him a letter as to why large sums were being spent on the construction of the
mosque .Jagatjit simply gave a befitting reply: "Your Excellency may be unaware that 60 per cent of
my population comprises of my loyal Muslim subjects. It is only in the fitness
of things that the best place of worship in my state be constructed for them.”
Built at a cost of Rs.6 lakhs in a
span of four years,the mosque was inaugurated by Nawab Sadiq Bahadur Khan of Bhawalpur
state( now in Pakisan) in 1930.It is replication of Kaoutobia Mosque in Marrakesh
in terms of architectural design. Its uniqueness also lies in the fact that it
was erected without any external domes or minarets but has a tall tower at one
end of the edifice. The mosque is
painted in light red color with the
doors and windows are green. Maharaja had retained the French architect
Monsieur M.Manteaux to design the mosque.For inner artwork, He had engaged the
aertists of mayo school of art,Lahore.
(references available on request.
Images Courtesy Google
No comments:
Post a Comment