Aga Khan inaugurates 'sunder' nursery at Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin
Authored By Wion Web Desk
Published: Feb 21, 2018, 23:11 IST | Updated: Feb 21, 2018, 23:11 IST
Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu along with Aga Khan inaugurated the 'Sunder Nursery' in Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin on Wednesday
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The inauguration of Sunder Nursery
Sunder Nursery, a lush 90-acre park in south Delhi restored over a period of 10 years, was inaugurated by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who described it as "magnificent garden" and a "successful story" of public-private-partnership model.
The park neighbours the iconic Humayun's Tomb, a World Heritage site.
"With the opening of this park, the capital will now have a great addition to its green spaces. One day it will become the national park of the city. This is a model and a successful public-private-partnership (PPP) story," Naidu said.
The vice president also said plans are afoot in the government to extend this green space so that it reaches up to Purana Quila.
The park neighbours the iconic Humayun's Tomb, a World Heritage site.
"With the opening of this park, the capital will now have a great addition to its green spaces. One day it will become the national park of the city. This is a model and a successful public-private-partnership (PPP) story," Naidu said.
The vice president also said plans are afoot in the government to extend this green space so that it reaches up to Purana Quila.
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Sunder Nursery at Hazrat Nizamuddin
Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, The Aga Khan IV and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu unveil the plaque during the inauguration of Sunder Nursery at Hazrat Nizamuddin.
The park, which was set up in 1913 as a nursery for plantation projects of the new British capital (New Delhi), has been developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in partnership with the CPWD, the ASI and the SDMC.
Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini (the Aga Khan IV), who jointly opened the park along with Naidu, said, "The park is being dedicated today to honour the past with the future on mind."
"Almost seven centuries ago, Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya walked the path here, standing for the teaching of universal love. That same message of tolerance and humanity passed on to the Mughal empire, with the Grand Trunk Road that runs through this terrain. And, one quarter of the world's population was governed with pluralistic harmony.
"It is with the same pluralistic and harmonious spirit that we dedicate the park today," he said.
The Aga Khan said, the work done on the park is a harmonious interaction of "divine blessings and human creativity".
Naidu also invoked Nizamuddin Auliya and his disciple Amir Khusaru in his speech, to underline the message of peace and harmony.
"No one preaches violence, no one preaches hatred, only a few elements here and there do that, the message of all religions is peace, affection, harmony and peace," he said.
The vice president also invited the Aga Khan's foundation to join the efforts of the Narendra Modi government in preservation of heritage in 13 cities.
The agreement between the AKTC and the government of India and it agencies was signed in 2007 and work began in 2008.
The park, which was set up in 1913 as a nursery for plantation projects of the new British capital (New Delhi), has been developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in partnership with the CPWD, the ASI and the SDMC.
Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini (the Aga Khan IV), who jointly opened the park along with Naidu, said, "The park is being dedicated today to honour the past with the future on mind."
"Almost seven centuries ago, Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya walked the path here, standing for the teaching of universal love. That same message of tolerance and humanity passed on to the Mughal empire, with the Grand Trunk Road that runs through this terrain. And, one quarter of the world's population was governed with pluralistic harmony.
"It is with the same pluralistic and harmonious spirit that we dedicate the park today," he said.
The Aga Khan said, the work done on the park is a harmonious interaction of "divine blessings and human creativity".
Naidu also invoked Nizamuddin Auliya and his disciple Amir Khusaru in his speech, to underline the message of peace and harmony.
"No one preaches violence, no one preaches hatred, only a few elements here and there do that, the message of all religions is peace, affection, harmony and peace," he said.
The vice president also invited the Aga Khan's foundation to join the efforts of the Narendra Modi government in preservation of heritage in 13 cities.
The agreement between the AKTC and the government of India and it agencies was signed in 2007 and work began in 2008.
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Hazrat Nizamuddin
A view of Sunder Nursery Opening by Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini at Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi.
A senior official of the AKTC said, "The monument will be ticketed at Rs 30, and the revenue from that will go to the Sunder Nursery Management Trust."
As many as 20,000 saplings of 280 tree species have been planted - making Sunder Nursery, the Delhi's first arboretum; and over 80 bird species have already been recorded since the overgrown and decrepit nursery was replaced with green cover.
The centre piece of the park is the Sunder Burj, endowed with embellished artwork on its inside dome and walls. There is also a sunken amphitheatre in the premises.
A new central axis has been created rich with fountains and gardens. Fifteen monuments, belonging to 16th century or earlier, stand in this verdant space, with the Sunder Burj, being the first structure to be restored from 2008-10.
"Six of the 15 monuments on the site have been designated as World Heritage monuments (part if the Humayun Tomb's buffer zone) following conservation and landscape restoration, and facilities such as an amphitheatre have been built and more are planned," the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said.
Sunder Nursery is the seventh park of urban scale developed by the AKTC, it said.
"Other parks that have been developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture include those in Afghanistan, Canada, Egypt, Mali, Tajikistan and Zanzibar," the AKDN said.
The Aga Khan also hailed the hundreds of stone carvers, masons, plasterers, gardeners, and engineers, who worked on the project, and the landscape architect Md Shaheer, who died in 2015.
"We also remember Md Shaheer, who is no more with us. The results of his vision we are seeing today," he said.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Urban Affairs Secretary D S Mishra were also present on the occasion. Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri, who was scheduled to attend the function, but could not, due to other pressing engagements.
A senior official of the AKTC said, "The monument will be ticketed at Rs 30, and the revenue from that will go to the Sunder Nursery Management Trust."
As many as 20,000 saplings of 280 tree species have been planted - making Sunder Nursery, the Delhi's first arboretum; and over 80 bird species have already been recorded since the overgrown and decrepit nursery was replaced with green cover.
The centre piece of the park is the Sunder Burj, endowed with embellished artwork on its inside dome and walls. There is also a sunken amphitheatre in the premises.
A new central axis has been created rich with fountains and gardens. Fifteen monuments, belonging to 16th century or earlier, stand in this verdant space, with the Sunder Burj, being the first structure to be restored from 2008-10.
"Six of the 15 monuments on the site have been designated as World Heritage monuments (part if the Humayun Tomb's buffer zone) following conservation and landscape restoration, and facilities such as an amphitheatre have been built and more are planned," the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said.
Sunder Nursery is the seventh park of urban scale developed by the AKTC, it said.
"Other parks that have been developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture include those in Afghanistan, Canada, Egypt, Mali, Tajikistan and Zanzibar," the AKDN said.
The Aga Khan also hailed the hundreds of stone carvers, masons, plasterers, gardeners, and engineers, who worked on the project, and the landscape architect Md Shaheer, who died in 2015.
"We also remember Md Shaheer, who is no more with us. The results of his vision we are seeing today," he said.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Urban Affairs Secretary D S Mishra were also present on the occasion. Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri, who was scheduled to attend the function, but could not, due to other pressing engagements.