Encroached, altered, forgotten: 14th-century Delhi's Gumti tomb set to reclaim its legacy

NEW DELHI: Delhi govt's archaeology department has initiated conservation work on the historic Gumti tomb of Shaikh Ali, located at the Defence Colony market roundabout. The tomb, constructed during the Lodi period in the late 14th or early 15th century, underwent inappropriate modifications in the 1990s when it was transformed into the office of the Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA).Following years of unauthorised occupation, the Supreme Court instructed the Defence Colony Residents' Welfare Association (DCRWA) on Jan 21 to vacate the premises and restore the site. On April 17, the archaeology department wrote to the executive engineer of Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd to take up the conservation and restoration work of the monument immediately and submit the status report before the next court hearing on May 14.DCRWA was ordered to pay Rs 40 lakh as compensation, which was submitted to the archaeology department on May 7. On May 13, the department also submitted a detailed restoration plan to the court, with the time for completion of the project estimated at six months.The restoration began this month. It involves the removal of modern additions like brick walls, plaster, wooden elements, windows, doors, false ceilings, tiles, toilet facilities, parking shed and pavements to uncover and preserve the tomb's original structure. The project encompasses conservation of the external dome, replacement of damaged lime plaster, restoration of stone brackets, archaeological excavation, plinth protection, chemical preservation, and finally, illumination of the monument and installation of CCTV cameras.Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari was happy. "This landmark judgment sets a powerful precedent; public spaces and heritage sites cannot be held hostage by encroachers," she said. "Protecting a 700-year-old monument also means the restoration of open spaces taken over by parking mafias and neglected, but now returned rightfully to the citizens."A technical expert committee with historian Dr Swapna Liddle in it, formed on March 10, conducted a site inspection on April 24 and provided comprehensive recommendations for the restoration work to prevent it from decay and maintain its originality and presentation. Archaeology department officials reported that on May 12, scaffolding with protective netting was installed, and modern additions concealing the original octagonal structure were carefully removed.Officials noted that after removing the false ceiling, they discovered embedded metal structures previously used for fixtures. Following technical committee guidance, these were carefully removed to preserve the original structure.The exposed internal dome reveals 16 decorated niches with multiple paint layers. Chemical treatment is going on to remove the paint layers and uncover the original colour. Trial excavations have revealed evidence of the existence of the original flooring. Modern additions like DCWA entrance features like signage with sunshade, marble stairs and pathways have been removed.Vegetation removal, chemical treatment of roots and structural strengthening are also being undertaken. The external dome's restoration, including repair of the lotus cresting and plaster work, is under way too. Stone plinth protection will follow the removal of the scaffolding.Delhi govt has proposed declaring the Gumti of Shaikh Ali a protected monument under the Delhi Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 2004, which establishes prohibited and regulated spaces in the city.