Pakistani Mughal Craftsman on UNESCO Exchange Visit to India

His name might not have been recorded in history books, but a tiny bit of the Taj Mahal will always belong to Riaz-ud-din, a craftsmen from Pakistan. Belonging to a family that has spent generations cutting tiny pieces of precious stones to make patterns that decorate the walls of Lahore Fort, Red Fort as well as Taj Mahal, Riaz-ud-din is one of the thousands craftsmen who have spent their lives creating the magic of Mughal buildings, but remain name-less.

Here on a UNESCO exchange programme that aims to bring both the countries closer together through culture, Riaz-ud-din got a chance to see a little bit of his legacy. “My grandfather migrated to Pakistan before Partition, but my cousins have been working to repair the Taj Mahal. My father also worked on Diwan-I-Khas in the Red Fort too before 1947. I learnt from him, my cousin Farmaan still works on the Red Fort,” he stated.

Working on the Lahore Fort at the moment, Riaz-ud-din like his ancestors has spent his life serving the Mughal empire centuries after its decline. “Peitra dura is part of my family tradition. I know am the third generation who has been continuing the same trade…