HERITAGE BYTES 2: Smith’s Folly: The ‘Crown’ that always lay uneasy on Qutb’s head

Smith's Folly

The cupola in the foreground (popularly known as Smith’s Folly) once crowned the Qutb Minar. It now lies unnoticed in the south eastern corner of the Qutb Complex and very few visitors actually get to know about it. Though the cupola seemingly looks close to the Minar, it is separated from the latter by a time gap of around 625 years.

It is believed that the first storey of the Minar was built by Qutbuddin Aibek and the next three were added by his successor Iltutmish around 1220. Inscriptions indicate that the structure was first struck by a lightening during Muhammad bin Tuqhlaq’s times but no details about any repairs are available. The Minar was stuck again with a lightening in 1368-69 which knocked off the top (fourth) storey. Firuz Shah Tuqlaq who was the Sultan then built two more storeys in red sandstone and marble and also added a cupola at the summit. Inscriptions indicate that the Minar was repaired again in 1503 by Sikandar Lodi when it was struck by lightning.

In 1802-03, the cupola on the top was thrown down and the whole pillar was damaged by an earthquake. This time Major R. Smith working as an army engineer under the rule of East India Company, was assigned to do the repairs. It was the best of times for him−he was involved with the design of St. James’ Church and Kashmere Gate. However, he went on an overdrive while repairing the Minar for which he stands permanently reprimanded in history. He put back the facing stones that had fallen down without any regard for order. He also added a balustrade (railing) to the projecting balconies in a Gothic style. Finally, he added a new cupola on the top which was met with enormous resistance both within and outside the colonial order. Major Smith attracted the wrath of architectural bigwigs such as Fergusson, Cunningham and Page of the Archaeological Survey. So huge was the outcry that Lord Hardinge had it taken down in 1848.

While the Minar continues to stand tall, Smith’s cupola lies sheepishly on the margins of the complex. It cruelly reminds the Present about how the Past could be unforgiving at times. 

The curse of the Minar continues to haunt Roger Smith.

Dr Shashank Sinha