The Aga Khan Palace

The Aga Khan Palace is a monumental site. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that Mahatma Gandhi was held there as a prisoner along with his wife, secretary, and others in the 1940s. At the behest of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III built the Aga Khan Palace in Pune in 1892 as an act of charity and to offer work to the poverty-stricken residents of Pune and surrounding regions affected by famine. Its construction cost the equivalent of INR 1.2 million at the time. The palace spans nearly 19 acres with a built-up area of seven acres. Its two-story building is supported by a series of beautiful Italian arches with wooden planks and stone and wood flooring. In February 1969, Mawlana Hazar Imam gifted the palace to the Indian government during a visit to India. In 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared the Aga Khan Palace a monument of National Importance because of its relation to the Great Indian Freedom Movement.

History of the Aga Khan Palace

The history of Aga Khan palace is directly linked to the country’s freedom movement, as several nationalists were held in this prison, including renowned names like Mahatma Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu. In 1942, one of Mahatma Gandhi’s most impactful campaigns–the Quit India Movement, resulted in the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi (Gandhi’s wife), Mahadev Desai (his secretary), Sarojini Naidu, as well as other Indians who participated in the campaign. Mahadev Desai and Kasturba Gandhi even took their last breaths in this palace, and two marble stones are constructed in their memory, which also serve as major tourist attractions.

The palace is known for its beautiful landscape, with lush green lawns and a huge passageway that lets visitors seek every bit of their journey here. The palace is among the major architectural and historical delights as it has witnessed some of the most pivotal events in India’s Freedom Movement. In 1969, Aga Khan dedicated the palace to the Indian people as a gesture of respect for Gandhi’s ideals. Thereon, India’s national monument remained abandoned for many years due to incorrect funding distribution. In July 1999, a demonstration was organised beside the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Pune train station to protest the monument’s deteriorating state. The current situation has vastly improved.

The palace has a long and illustrious history. Following the commencement of the Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, and Mahadev Desai (his secretary) were incarcerated here for two years, from August 1942 to May 1944. During their imprisonment, Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai took their last breaths on 22 Feb 1944 and 15 Aug 1942, respectively, and had their samadhis there. The memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi are in the same compound, near the Mula River.

Importance of the Aga Khan Palace

In 1972, Karim Aga Khan, the fourth Aga Khan, also known as Shāh Karim al-Husayni, bequeathed this palace to the Gandhi Smarak Samiti. During India’s independence movement, several notable Indian leaders were imprisoned here. Today, the palace is also known as The Gandhi Memorial, as the remains of Mahatma Gandhi are found here. The palace has a museum devoted to Mahatma Gandhi and the battle for independence, including images, letters, clothing, and prayer beads from Gandhi’s personal collection.

Conclusion 

Because of its unique architecture, lush greenery, and ideal photography lighting, the Aga Khan Palace has been one of the popular destinations for photographers and history buffs. However, as the widespread availability of photography became a nuisance to visitors and tourists, the palace’s management decided to prohibit all photography within its grounds. Even cellphone photography is forbidden within the palace grounds.