Epic tales of love weaved in brick and mortar

A queen’s tribute

There are umpteen stories of kings building monuments for their queens, but the story of Rani-ki-Vav or the queen’s stepwell in Gujarat is unique. In the 11^th century AD, Queen Udaymati had the inverted stepwell built as a memorial to her beloved King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty. The beautifully sculpted walls and pillars of Rani-ki-Vav narrate stories of the various avatars of Lord Vishnu. Situated on the banks of river Saraswati, this masterpiece is a monument built with love and longing.

A gift to mankind

It is said, ‘There is no footprint too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world’. This is true in the case of Leland Stanford Jr. When the only son of Leland Stanford and Jane Lathrop Stanford passed away at 16, the Stanfords decided to dedicate their life to building a university in his memory. In 1885, the Stanford University was thrown open to students. Losing a child is heart breaking, but it takes a lot of courage to turn grief into something so great that it benefits thousands of children.

The grand mausoleum

The Taj Mahal stands as the most poignant monument of love. The 14-year-old prince Shah Jahan fell in love with the Persian princess Mumtaz Mahal and their marriage was solemnised after five years. Though he had other wives, Mumtaz was his favourite. Their happy life came to an abrupt end when Mumtaz died of complications during childbirth. Shah Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build a mausoleum so grand and unique, there would be no other in the days to come. Taking inspiration from the Quran, he built the Taj Mahal on the banks of the river Yamuna in Agra. The white marble complex is a blend of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture, and till date, there has been no other that matches up to it.

The things we do for love

Famous poet Maya Angelou was right when she said, “Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Across time, some have built monuments in memory of their loved ones, some have dedicated their lives for the welfare of fellow beings, while others have spent their lives living in those memories. These men and women had no lofty aspirations, just a big heart to keep the memories of their loved ones alive. With sheer dedication and devotion, they immortalised love and proved to the world that love transcends all.