When one hears of the Taj Mahal, the first thing that comes to mind is one of the world’s wonders at Agra. But do you know that a mini Taj Mahal was made in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh? This unique building is located in Kasair Kala near Dibai town of Bulandshahr. Just like the original marble-wonder, this was also made in the memory of a beloved. It is also called the ‘Taj Mahal of the Poor.’
The Taj Mahal of the Poor, built by a retired postmaster, Faizul Hasan Qadri, is in memory of his wife, Begum Taja Mulli Bibi. The postmaster spent his entire earnings of his lifetime building this beautiful monument in the loving memory of his late wife. Qadri Sahab’s wife, Taja Mulli Bibi Begum, passed away, after which the postmaster started the construction of a mini Taj Mahal in her memory. This building too, was a symbol of love. The construction began in a field located near his house in 2012 and it was inspired by the Taj Mahal of Agra.
He worked on his building for two years, but in 2014, his savings of Rs 23 lakh were exhausted. While the building was almost ready, the marble stonework was still pending and he needed Rs 10 lakh to complete it. He kept saving money from his pension to fulfil his dream and right before his death, he ended up collecting Rs 74,000. He dreamed that by completing this building, he would cherish the memory of his late wife. After the news of the Taj Mahal spread, the then Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav, summoned the postmaster to Lucknow and offered him funds to complete the structure and get the marble work done. But he politely refused the offer and instead asked the Samajwadi Party leader to build an inter-college for girls. The college is up and running now.
After his death, his relatives shared that the postmaster could save two lakh and wanted to buy marble from Jaipur. As per reports, after his death, he was buried beside his wife, just like Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved, Mumtaz. The place has now become a centre of attraction for tourists.
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