When I read/heard about the exhibition, The Mute Eloquence of the Taj Mahal Ba Zaban-e Be Zabani, I was reminded of the beautiful sher by Shahpur Rasool written on the back cover of historian, author Rana Safvi’s book titled “Where Stones Speak.”

होगी इस ढेर इमारत की कहानी कुछ तो
ढूंढ  अल्फ़ाज़ के मलबे में मआनी कुछ तो

Hogi is dher imarat ki kahani kuch to
Dhoonh alfaz ke malbey mein maani kuchch to.

(There will be a story hidden somewhere in these ruins, look for its meaning in the debris of words)

I heaved a sigh of relief. The Taj Mahal stands in all its glory. I then wondered what would be new in this exhibition. The Taj Mahal has been photographed by thousands of photographers, and millions of pictures of this beautiful monument exist. What could Rana add to what we already know, on a walk-through of artworks at the Delhi Art Gallery? What is it that we still haven’t heard about the sublime beauty of the monument that Shah Jahan had built for his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal)?

It was an afternoon well spent. There was so much to learn through her entertaining and educational storytelling. Rana Safvi quoted Sahir Ludhianvi and Faiz. I was surprised when she talked about fruit orchards on the premises. The garden produced a large variety of fruit, she said. These were replaced by smaller plants because they obstructed the view of the tomb from the Entrance. The principle of four minarets, the charbagh code in Islamic architecture, and the four streams in paradise were mentioned. The Quranic beliefs of divine unity, ‘Tawheed’, and the afterlife, ‘Akhirat’, were discussed. Indo-Persian architecture was talked about.

The foundation of the Taj Mahal was designed to provide maximum stability and durability. Deep foundations were dug down to distribute the weight of the massive piers, ensuring a stable base. Each pier rests on a series of wells, which were bonded together with strong arches. The wells were built with kakai bricks and lime mortar and reinforced with axles and spokes for extra strength.

I have admired the beautiful iris flower on the top band of the cenotaph jali, for its being carved beautifully, but its Persian name, gul-i zambaq, sounded so romantic. No wonder it is one of the favourite flowers of spring mentioned in classical Persian poetry.

The exhibition features over 200 works that present the monument through the eyes of Company School painters, foreign artists, and modern masters. We experienced the Mute Eloquence of the monument of love. The Taj spoke to us in the language of calligraphy, geometry, proportion, and silence. Art, history, and faith, beyond myths and the purity of the white marble, were talked about. The symbolisms of the 26 distinct botanical motifs unfolding in its exquisite pietra dura (parchinkari) inlay were mentioned. Symbolism drawn from Persian, Ottoman, and Mughal traditions.

Much has been written and said over the centuries about the Taj Mahal. India is the melting pot of several ideas and beliefs. The Taj is symbolic of India’s cultural image. My visit to the exhibition reinforced my belief in India’s multiculturalism. I have been to the Taj Mahal many times. I am sure that when I visit it next time, I will see it through a different lens.

The Mute Eloquence of the TAJ MAHAL

Ba-zaban-e Be-zabani

is on view from

25 October -6 December 2025

Monday to Saturday 11am – 7pm

DAG, 22A Windsor Place, Janpath, New Delhi

These are some pictures I had clicked in the Taj Mahal complex, over the years-

Pictures and Text by Prerna Jain.