Aga Khan Palace

The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in Pune, India. The palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who wanted to help the poor in the neighbouring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.[1]

Aga Khan Palace
LocationPune, India
Coordinates18.5523°N 73.9015°E / 18.5523; 73.9015
Area19 acres (77,000 m2)
Built1892
Governing bodyGandhi National Memorial Society
TypeHistorical significance
Designated2003
Designated byArchaeological Survey of India
Location of Aga Khan Palace in Maharashtra

The Aga Khan Palace is a majestic building.[2] The palace is closely linked to the Indian freedom movement as it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu. It is also the place where Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died.[2] In 2003, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared the site as a monument of national importance.[3] Aga Khan Palace was major attraction of photographers for various kind of photo shoot because of its special architecture, greenery and perfect for photography lighting, but as commercialization of photography increased nuisance to visitor and tourists, management had stopped allowing any kind of photography within its premises. Even mobile photography is prohibited within the area of Aga Khan Palace.

History

Historically, the palace holds great significance. Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi and his secretary Mahadev Desai were interned in the palace from 9 August 1942 to 6 May 1944, following the launch of Quit India Movement. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died during their captivity period in the palace and have their Samadhis located over there. Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi have their memorials located in the same complex, near Mula river.[4] Legend goes that the Sultan built the palace to provide employment to the famine – struck villagers of the surrounding region; so he employed 1000 people, and the palace was constructed in five years. It was built in Rs 12 lakhs. The total area is 13 acres and built up palace covers seven acres, and the rest is a well maintained garden.

The palace housed National Model School until early 1970s.

In 1969, Aga Khan Palace was donated to the Indian people by Aga Khan IV as a mark of respect to Gandhi and his philosophy.[1] Today the palace houses a memorial on Gandhi where his ashes were kept. The then prime minister Indira Gandhi had visited the place in 1974 where she allotted a sum of ₹200,000 (US$2,800) every year, for its maintenance. The amount rose to ₹1 million (US$14,000) till the 1990s,[5] after which the national monument of India, was neglected for many years due to improper allocation of funds. There was a protest held at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Pune railway station in July 1999 to protest against the worsening condition of the monument. The present condition has improved quite a lot.[6]

Significance

Aga Khan palace has Italian arches and spacious lawns. The building comprises five halls. It covers an area of 19 acres (77,000 m2), out of which 7 acres (28,000 m2) is the built up area. The palace captivates the eye of a spectator with its magnificence and picturesque architecture. It took 5 years and an estimated budget of ₹1.2 million (US$17,000) to complete this Palace. The area of the ground floor is 1756 m2, that of the first floor is 1080 m2, whereas the second floor has a construction of 445 m2. The speciality of this structure is its corridor of 2.5 meters around the entire building. Prince Karim Aga Khan donated this palace to Gandhi Smarak Samittee in 1972 and since then Parks and Gardens organisation is maintaining it.

The palace archives a number of photos and portraits depicting glimpses from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation of India, and other personalities of the Indian freedom struggle.[7]

This palace is also the headquarters of the Gandhi National Memorial Society.[8] It also hosts a shop that deals in khaadi and other hand loomed textiles.[9]

Activities organised at the palace

Gandhi Memorial society celebrates the following public functions at the palace:

Other than yearly events, morning prayer sessions are held daily at the samadhi since decades. The prayer draws huge crowds everyday, and the number goes up threefold on 2 October as people visit the place to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.[10]

Aga Khan Palace as viewed from the left rear side
  • A scanned image of Aga Khan Palace before India's independence.
  • Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Stone (One on the right) with the memorial stone of Mahadev Desai in the palace where she died.
  • Distance view of the palace.
  • Gandhi's ashes at the palace.
  • Front View of Aga Khan Palace
  • Side View of Aga Khan Palace
  • Aga Khan Palace Full View
  • Milestones related to Mahatma Gandhi at Aga Khan Palace
  • Information Plaque at Aga Khan Palace
  • Aga Khan Palace Side View
Panoramic view from the palace

See also

References
  1. Suryawanshi, Sudhir (1 February 2012). "State govt to set up special cell to preserve heritage structures". DNA India via HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. "Respecting our legacy". Deccan Herald. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  3. "On Gandhi Heritage Sites list, Aga Khan Palace, Yerawada jail". The Indian Express. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  4. "Aga Khan Palace History". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. Deshmukh, Vinita (16 July 1999). "In Shiv shahi, Aga Khan Palace has no place?". The Indian Express. Pune. Archived from the original on 23 February 2001. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  6. "Congress flays State Govt for neglect of Aga Khan palace". The Indian Express. Pune. 17 July 1999. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  7. Times News Network (1 May 2004). "Paint job 'taints' historic photos". The Times of India. Pune. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  8. Aga Khan Palace Punediary.com. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  9. "Try these places". India Today. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  10. "Following the Mahatma". The Indian Express. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
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