This beautiful red & buff sandstone tower is the highest one (72.5mts) in India. The Diameter of it at the base is 14.32 mts & around 2.75 mts at the top. The foundation stone of Qutub Minar was laid down by Qutb-u’d-Din Aibak in 1199 AD to celebrate the victory of Md. Gori over the Rajputs in 1192. After the first storey, 3 more storeys were added to it by Shamsu’d-Din IItumish, the successor & son-in-law of Qutb-u’d-Din Aibak. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic & Nagari in the Minar reveal the history of the Qutub. The inscriptions also suggest that it was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88 AD) & Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517 AD).

A “Compass” is a wonderful object that has fascinated me through out my life. And the moment I saw this particular piece in someone’s drawing room, I was tempted to click a picture of it. Seeing this beautiful thing the 1st thing that crossed my mind was “It’s a moral Compass”. Indicating ‘integrity’, ‘responsibility’, ’compassion’ and ‘forgiveness’ respectively and I need to trust my “COMPASS”. So it has again fulfilled its purpose of guiding. Indeed a true guide.

This is one of those pictures which I had clicked at Qutb Minar some 2 years back. The colors & the carvings are so mesmerizing. Simply could not keep my eyes off them. So many pair of eyes must have admired the beauty of this wonder. This tomb is of Iltutmish within the complex of Qutb Minar in Delhi.

 

FADING AWAY

“I have no where to go,

No I am not fading away,

You might have forgotten to store me in your memory,

Thus you feel I am going away………..

 

Even when u shan’t see me,

I will be there someplace around you,

A shadow may be,

But then also I am not fading away…

 

 A silhouette I am,

Of our being together,

To remind thou of love

So I say in my final words I am not fading away”

                                                             By Pragnya P Mohanty