After 350 years here is a black Taj

A sand sculptor has fulfilled emperor Shahjahan’s dream, reports Bibhuti Mishra
The Black Taj was created in a record 22 hours by Sudarsan Patnaik and his students
The Black Taj was created in a record 22 hours by Sudarsan Patnaik and his students

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s unfulfilled last wish of building a black Taj Mahal facing the white one at Agra has come true. The internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik, from Orissa has created a Taj Mahal in black sand on the eastern side of the famous Taj Mahal inside the Taj Khema. The Black Taj came up on the occasion of the closing ceremony of Taj Mahotsav in celebrations commemorating 350th year of Taj Mahal" in September. Now visitors can see the twin Taj at Agra.

Shahjahan’s desire to build a black Taj Mahal to house his tomb was recorded by French traveller Travernier, who wrote "Shahjahan began to build his own tomb on the other side of Yamuna but the war with his sons interrupted his plans and Aurangazeb who reins at present is not disposed to complete it". Mehtab Burj and the wall adjoining it, opposite the Taj Mahal, is generally believed by historians as the foundations and remains of Shahjahan’s proposed plan.

Patnaik said "Shahjahan took 22years for his Taj but this Black Taj with a height of 15 feet, has been created in 22hours."

Fifteen students of Golden Sand Art institute, Puri helped the sculptor who in his own humble way has contributed to the realisation of a dream. Inaugurated recently by the tourism minister of Uttar Pradesh, it has evoked a lot of interest.

Patnaik has participated around more than 27 international sand sculpture championships around the world and has won many awards and medals for the country. He is the first Indian to win the 1st prize at the recently held International Sand Sculpting Championship, Berlin. He had created another white Taj Mahal in sand at the Houston International Festival at Texas in April this year.

For the last 15 years, Pattnaik has been doing sand sculpture in the golden beach at Puri, Orissa and running an institute named Golden Sand Art Institute which has around 75 students (including foreigners) learning this art form.

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