A group of 35 artisans are working on an exact miniature replica of the Taj Mahal in Bhopal these days.
A dream come true for the man behind the vision, Syed Hanif, Director, Star and Gems, who says it is the image of the 'Taj' which he could never erase from his mind that compelled him to come up with the idea of a replica.
"Around 28 years back, when I had gone to see the Taj Mahal for the first time, I used to work in a diamond factory as a labourer . I was so mesmerized that I started visiting Agra frequently. In the mean time, I started my business in diamonds, and then around 10 to 12 years back, I started my business in jewellery.
My business flourished. Around five years ago, I started my own brand in the name of Star Gems. Two years ago, I thought that I will never be able to make the replica of a real Taj Mahal, but I can definitely make a miniature Taj Mahal made of gold and silver. So, I have taken up this mission so that my company, Bhopal and India stands out in the globe," said Syed Hanif.
Being made with total accuracy in 30,000 parts, the basic structure of the miniature Taj will be of copper. The cover plates will be made of gold, silver and diamonds.
Eyeing the Guinness Book of World Records, the Taj Mahal has 32 doors, 25 domes and a boundary made of gold weighing 10 kilograms. Each door has two diamonds worth Rs. 6 crores, and the instead of marble, 400 kilograms of silver is being used.
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Syed Farooq, CEO of Star and Gems, said that 35 people have been working on the project for the last three years.The project is nearing completion. He said the perfect matching of colours is a real challenge.
"Every effort is being taken to complete the Jaali work with utmost intricacy. We are also working on the inscriptions on the walls of the Taj. We are very careful about that, because a single mistake will hurt the religious sentiments of the people. It is a real challenge. But I am sure we will be successful," said Farooq.
The craftsman claims that the Meenakari work would last for 500 years.
The estimated cost of this miniature Taj is Rs 25 crores.
Done without the use of machinery, Syed Hanif expects to sell the replica of the 17th century monument for a whooping Rs 100 crores in the international market.