File Photo: Children gather next the mausoleum of Tajammuli, the late wife of retired postman Faizul Hassan Qadri in the town of Kaser Kalan, Uttar Pradesh. (Associated Press)
An 81-year-old retired clerk, who had exhausted all his savings in building a "mini" Taj Mahal in Bulandshahr in the memory of his late wife, has got financial aid from the Uttar Pradesh government in constructing the mausoleum, in which he wishes to be buried beside his woman.
Faizul Hasan Qadri took up the task of constructing a replica of the 17th century monument in 2011, when his wife died of throat cancer. The retired clerk put all his savings into erecting the monument in his Kaser Kalan village.
"Due to the paucity of funds, the work was stopped last year," Mr Qadri said.
After recent reports that Mr Qadri had exhausted all his savings at the last stage of completion of the monument, the state government has stepped in.
Mr Qadri said that he has spent Rs 14 lakhs of his savings on the building, including provident fund and gratuity.
District Magistrate B Chandrakala confirmed that she called Qadri at Chief Minister Akhilseh Yadav's behest to know about his project.
"Soon, a meeting of the octogenarian with the chief minister will be arranged," the DM said. Qadri has a desire to be buried by the side of his wife, Tajmauli, in the mausoleum.
Luck favoured him when the Chief Minister chanced to have a look at the Taj Mahal "replica" recently at a social site.