English Power Point Presentation Environment

Indian historical monument which need conservation

Site chosen by me is Qutub Minar

Historical Significance

Qutub Minar, at 120 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and the second tallest minar in India after Fatah Burj at Mohali. Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutub Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tower is located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. Made of red sandstone and marble, Qutub Minar is a 73 meter (240 feet) tall tapering tower with a diameter measuring 14.32 meters (47 feet) at the base and 2.75 meters (9 feet) at the peak. Inside the tower, a circular staircase with 379 steps leads to the top.

In 1200 CE, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate started construction of the Qutub Minar. In 1220, Aibak's successor and son-in-law Iltutmish added three storey's to the tower. In 1369, lightning struck the top storey, destroying it completely and Firoz Shah Tughlaq carried out restoration work replacing the damaged storey with two new storey's every year, made of red sandstone and white marble.

Qutub Minar is surrounded by several historically significant monuments, which are historically connected with the tower and are part of the Qutb Complex. These include the diamond pole of Delhi , Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Alai Darwaza, the Tomb of Iltutmish, Alai Minar, Ala-ud-din's Madrasa and Tomb, and the Tomb of Imam Zamin. Other minor monuments include Major Smith's Cupola and Sanderson's Sundial.

Architecture The Minar is made of Dark red sandstone covered with

Iron intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an. The Minar comprises several superposed flanged and cylindrical shafts, separated be balconies carried on Muqarnas corbels. The first three storey's are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth and sixth storey's are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat ul Islam Mosque. The minar tilts just over 65 cm from the vertical, which is considered to be within safe limits, although experts have stated that monitoring is needed in case rainwater seepage further weakens the foundation.

The nearby 7 meters high Iron Pillar from Gupta empire is a metallurgical curiosity. The pillar standing in the Qutub complex has Brahmic inscriptions on it and predates the Islamic minar.

Accident Before 1974, the general public was

allowed access to the top of the minar accessed through a narrow staircase. On 4 December 1981, 45 people were killed in the stampede that followed an electricity failure that plunged the tower's staircase into darkness. Most of the victims were children because, at the time school children were allowed free access to historical monuments on Fridays. Subsequently, public access to the inside of the tower has been banned.

Conservation of Qutub Minar 1. Pollution from vehicle exhausts, smoke stacks

(chimneys) of nearby industries within a 20 mile radius, including brick kilns. 2. Excessive tourist load treading the staircase. 3. Vibrations from the transport means including the Metro railway (there is one very near it; but probably remedial measures were taken) & overflying airplanes (airport is very near)- the best that can be one is to align the flight path away from the monument. This includes earth tremors that can't be helped; particularly Delhi is very tremor-prone.

Steps taken to preserve Qutub Minar The potential of the area as an

archaeological park was clear from the onset and its proximity to the World Heritage Site made it more attractive, possibly as an extension to the WHS or a buffer zone. The significance of the site led the government to focus their resources here for the past eight years.

During this period, 35 monuments have undergone conservation work and heritage trails and signage are being established (proposed in 1997 but approved for funding and implementation only in 2003) to convert this area into a sensitive archaeological park rather than a sanitation ground.

The effort involved lobbying with the political leadership and officials from various departments, from the chief minister to the gardener or guard, as a result of which Delhi Tourism has consistently funded the conservation initiatives over six phases of work. 

DDA, the land owning agency cooperates in maintaining the horticultural component of the park; the MCD and the Delhi Water Supply and Sewage undertaking has carried out a considerable quantum of work to convert open drains into underground pipes.

The Archaeological Survey of India protects and owns four buildings within the park and along with the State Department of Archaeology has now taken steps to extend its ownership and protection to buildings already conserved.

The Delhi Police have stepped up vigil to make the area safe and to ensure no encroachments take place. Above all, government led public awareness campaigns have often led to workshops for schoolchildren being held at this locale.

Thank you for watching I hope you liked it

Made By Gaurav Anand 10th D