One of Ahmedabad’s oldest marvels, the Jhulta Minara mosque in Gomtipur, may have survived the 2001 quake but is now on the brink of collapse due to official indifference.
One of Ahmedabad’s oldest marvels, the Jhulta Minara (Shaking Minarets) mosque in Gomtipur, may have survived the 2001 quake but is now on the brink of collapse due to official indifference. Recently, a central pillar collapsed but no one was hurt.
The tremors that wrecked large parts of Gujarat in 2001 damaged one of the two minarets which have hypnotised visitors for nearly 600 years. The other minaret survives only because of efforts by locals who contribute funds for its upkeep.
The mosque was built in 1430 by Sultan Ahmed Shah in memory of his mother. In fact, its formal name is Bibi ki Masjid. Local residents say most pillars that support the mosque’s domes are worn out due to age. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), however, appears indifferent.
Jhulta Minara caretaker Abdul Majid Abdul Khurdush told DNA that there are 154 pillars that support the mosque’s domes on which the minarets are built. “All pillars are worn out and their condition is deteriorating by the day,” he said. “The ASI has been doing absolutely nothing to save this unique heritage structure. Our local trust pays me Rs140 a month to look after this archeological marvel.”
Khurdush said the shaking minarets had perplexed the British and they had dug up the ground beneath one of them to find out why they shook. They were unable to find out the reason.
Khwaja Moyuddin Sheikh, who offers namaaz at the mosque, points to the minaret that was damaged during the earthquake and says that wood was inserted between the stone slabs with which the walls of the minaret are built. Apparently, the pieces of wood allow the minarets to shake without collapsing.
“About 15 years back, the place was open to the general public,” said Moyuddin Sheikh. “Now, entry to the minarets is restricted.”
Central ASI state director S Shivanand said, “I don’t think the minarets are in a bad condition. Local residents apply cement plaster on its floors, which erodes its authenticity as a heritage structure.”
ASI superintendent AJ Parmar said, “We received a complaint that one of the mosque’s pillars has collapsed. The Jhulta Minara mosque could not be included for restoration in our current budget. When we prepare another budget for new projects, we will include it.”
Strangely, the Jhulta Minara is not included on the heritage route of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
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