Letter From Mr. An Example Of A Home Language Survey Form, In English: Fill & Download for Free

Source: 40 Amazing Coincidences You Won't Believe Actually Happened | Best Lifehttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.boredpanda.com/unbelievable-historic-coincidences/&ved=2ahUKEwiXofeAtL3pAhWZ_XMBHehsDX8QFjASegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw2HRI5LOPsgWxfbCEW0wTeK&cshid=15898059347501Mark Twain's birth and death coincide with Halley's Comet.ShutterstockSamuel Langhorne Clemens, known more popularly by his nom de plume, Mark Twain, was born in 1835, the same year that Halley's Comet made its first appearance. The comet made a second appearance in 1910, the year that Twain died, and the author, according to the New York Times, famously predicted that the two events would coincide. He's quoted as saying, "The Almighty has said, no doubt, 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together."2Stephen Hawking shares his birth and death dates with Galileo and Einstein, respectively.Shutterstock/The World in HDRTheoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking was famously born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo's death, and died on what would have been Einstein's 139th birthday. That said, the far more confounding question of statistical improbability surrounding Hawking's life was the fact that he survived to be 76 despite living with Lou Gehrig's Disease.Though we know very little about the disease, according to Scientific American, most of those diagnosed live for about five years past diagnosis. Yet Hawking survived for more than five additional decades, allowing him to share his crucial insights and gifts with the world—not to mention his legendary humor.3Political adversaries Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other—on July 4th.ShutterstockThe relationship between former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams took quite a few twists and turns over the years. They began as allies, then gradually grew into adversaries as their politics divided them. As the last two surviving members of the American revolutionaries from the British Empire, they eventually reconciled and corresponded by letter until their final years. They famously died within hours of one another on the same day in 1826: on the Fourth of July, no less.4A meteor hit the Commette family's home.ShutterstockNational Geographic reports that your odds of being killed by a meteor are 1 in 1,600,000. So the odds would seem infinitesimally small that a meteor—which had been flying through space for more than four-and-a-half billion years without hitting a target—would hit the home of a family with the last name "Commette." According to Time, in a bizarre case of cosmic synchronicity, that is exactly what happened to one family in France. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the Commettes are now the proud owners of their own extremely rare extra-terrestrial rock.5Anthony Hopkins happened upon a signed copy of the book he was searching for in a train station.ShutterstockIn the early 1970s, Anthony Hopkins was slated to play Kostya in a film adaptation of The Girl from Petrovka. To prepare for the role, he set out to read the book, but was unable to find a copy in any book store despite a rigorous search. Then, as internet legend has it, while sitting in a London Tube station, he noticed a copy of that very book that someone had left behind. When he opened it, he found that the book had also been signed by its author, George Feifer.6John Wilkes Booth's brother saved Abraham Lincoln's son from death.Shutterstock/Everett HistoricalJohn Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln reportedly had a coincidental family connection long before Booth shot Lincoln on that fateful day in April in 1865. Booth's brother, Edwin, was a somewhat famous stage actor who ardently supported the Union during the Civil War. While in a train station in New Jersey, Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, leaned up against a stopped train, nearly falling onto the tracks as it started up again. Edwin Booth grabbed him by the collar and saved him just in time. The younger Lincoln recognized his hero and wrote about the incident, but it wasn't until years later that Booth found out who he had saved.7And that same son of Lincoln's witnessed three presidential assassinations.Shutterstock/Everett HistoricalWhile it would be rare to be present for the death of any president, Robert Todd Lincoln was in some way present for not one, not two, but three presidential assassinations. Though he wasn't there at the theater during his father's fateful shooting, he was rushed to his deathbed and sat by his side until the elder Lincoln passed away. Later, he was an eye-witness to the killing of President James A. Garfield. Finally, in 1901, Lincoln was nearby in Buffalo, New York, at the invitation of President William McKinley, when the president was fatally shot.8An engaged coupled discovered their parents almost married one another.ShutterstockAs told in an episode of NPR's This American Life, titled "No Coincidence, No Story," Stephen and Helen Lee had just gotten engaged when they made a shocking family discovery. While looking through family photos during their engagement party in New York, they realized that the bride's mother and groom's late father had nearly gotten married in Korea in the 1960s, but moved onto other relationships because their parents disapproved. By incredibly narrow odds, the two loves of Lee's father's life—from two different sides of the world, no less—now share grandchildren decades later.9One woman survived the Titanic, Britannic, and Olympic shipwrecks.ShutterstockViolet Jessop was a nurse and ocean liner stewardess who earned the nickname "Miss Unsinkable" by surviving both the accidents of the Titanic in 1912 and its sister ship, the HMHS Britannic, which met the same fate in 1916. Jessup was also reportedly on board a third boat, the RMS Olympic, when it hit a war ship—but fortunately, the Olympic stayed afloat.10The first and last battles of the Civil War were fought next to the same man's property—in different towns.ShutterstockThe Civil War broke out in 1861 with the First Battle of Bull Run. "Bull Run" references the name of a stream that wound its way through the farm of a 46-year-old grocer named Wilmer McLean in Manassas, Virginia. After the devastation of the battle, McLean left to find safety in a new home with his wife in Appomattox, Virginia, and, for roughly four years, he was indeed safe as the bloody war overtook the nation. In 1865, the war came to a close when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appottomax Courthouse—just steps from McLean's new property.11The first and last soldiers killed in WWI are buried next to each other.By the time World War I came to an end, it had claimed an estimated one million British lives. Yet somehow, without any planning, the first recorded English casualty of the war, 17-year-old soldier John Parr, and the last recorded casualty, 30-year-old George Edwin Ellison, reportedly have graves that face one another just 15 feet apart in the Saint Symphorien Military Cemetery.12One man missed two Malaysian Air flights that crashed.ShutterstockIn 2014, there were two tragic plane crashes involving Malaysian Air flights. The first was shot down over Ukraine, and the second disappeared without a trace somewhere over the Indian Ocean in the greatest aviation mystery of all time. Beyond the fact that both incidents involved the same airline in such a short time span, there was another striking coincidence: Dutch cyclist Maarten de Jonge was scheduled to take both flights, but cheated death by bumping his ticket at the eleventh hour, when cheaper options became available.13A father and son were the first and last casualties during the construction of the Hoover Dam—14 years apart.ShutterstockAccording to the United States Bureau of Reclamation, out of the estimated 21,000 people that worked on the building of the Hoover Dam, there were 96 deaths on the job site. Among the first was J.G. Tierney, who drowned along with his colleague on December 20, 1922 while conducting a geological survey prior to construction. Fourteen years later, on the exact anniversary of ‎Tierney's death, the final death of the project was recorded. It was his son, Patrick Tierney, who, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, fell from an electrical tower.14A woman's husband found a dollar she wrote on, hoping to find a husband.ShutterstockAs told on an episode of NPR's This American Life, Esther and Paul Grachan had been seeing each other for a short time when Paul decided to ask her to be his girlfriend. That day, while paying for a sandwich, he noticed that a dollar bill he was about to hand the cashier had the name "Esther" written on it in pencil. How strange, he thought, that this should happen right when he was thinking about their relationship. He kept the bill and decided to frame it and give it to her as a gift. She was "speechless" when she saw it, but told him to ask her about it later.Years passed, they got engaged and then married, and the framed dollar resurfaced in their home. Apparently, Esther had written her name on the dollar and a few others after a breakup, and said to herself at the time that she would marry the man that brought it back to her. She didn't tell him why she was so speechless because she thought bringing up marriage so soon in the relationship would scare him off. But she believed in that moment he was "the one."1510-Year-Old Laura Buxton released a red balloon—and another 10-year-old Laura Buxton found it.ShutterstockIn a story told on the WYNC podcast Radiolab, in 2001, a 10-year-old girl named Laura Buxton stood in her front yard with a red balloon. On the side of the balloon, she had written the words, "Please return to Laura Buxton," along with her address. She then released it into a strong wind.The balloon traveled roughly 140 miles south before descending, and finally landed in the yard of another 10-year-old girl. The second girl's name? Also Laura Buxton! After getting in touch and explaining the coincidence, the girls decided to meet, and discovered a whole range of uncanny similarities. Not only did they look and dress alike, but both girls had three-year-old chocolate labs, a grey rabbit, and a guinea pig, and both had brought their guinea pigs to the meeting, unplanned.16Joan Ginther scored more than $20 million in four scratcher lottery wins.ShutterstockAs Business Insider notes, we should be a bit skeptical of the "coincidence" of Joan Ginther winning the lottery four times over. Not because it smacks of urban legend, as so many of these stories do, but because the Stanford Ph.D. graduate studied statistics, and may have stacked the odds in her favor. Yet even with the help of a strategy, the chances of successfully pulling off a four-time win are still low. Ginther scored multiple million-dollar scratch-off tickets each of the four times, winning a grand total of more than $20 million. And if you want to hit it big, know that These Are the Most Common Powerball Winning Numbers.17Tsutomo Yamaguchi survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.ShutterstockTsutomo Yamaguchi is either incredibly lucky or incredibly unlucky, depending on how you look at it: unlucky in that he happened to be present in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the times of their catastrophic atomic bombings, and yet lucky that he miraculously survived both. Yamaguchi reportedly fled Hiroshima in search of safety, winding up in Nagasaki only to see a second flash of white light that would cover over half of his body in burns from radioactive ash. Yamaguchi is the only person recognized by the Japanese government as having survived both bombings. Sadly, he died in 2010 of cancer.18"Dog," in the lost language Mbabaram, is "dog."ShutterstockMbabaram is a dying Aboriginal language in Australia—and one that couldn't sound less like English. So, it came as quite the surprise when linguists studying Mbabaram realized that the tribe's word for "dog" is "dog," with no connection to or derivation from the English word. The coincidence is technically considered a false cognate, since they sound the same but only coincidentally share a meaning. This particular case is often used to warn people of assuming a relationship between words based on surface-level similarities.19A French poet encountered the man who introduced him to plum pudding every time he ate plum pudding.ShutterstockAccording to mathematician Joseph Mazur's book Fluke, the 19th-century French poet Émile Deschamps experienced a coincidence for the record books. As a teenager, he met an Englishman named Mr. de Fortgibu, who introduced Deschamps to plum pudding for the first time. Roughly a decade later, Deschamps saw plum pudding on a restaurant menu and ordered it, but the waiter said they had sold the last one to a man in the back of the restaurant, then called out to Mr. de Fortgibu by name. Another decade passed and Deschamps went to a dinner party that served plum pudding. He joked that the party must be for Mr. de Fortgibu, who then inexplicably showed up at the door at that very moment! He had accidentally come to the wrong door, on his way to another dinner party.20A couple found wedding vows in a bottle written on the same day they wed.ShutterstockAs CBS News reported, Fred and Lynette Dubendorf were strolling down the beach with their dog, picking up the odd bits of trash they found to throw away, when they noticed something in a small plastic bottle washed up on the shore. Upon closer look, they found that it was a message, containing the marriage vows of another couple, Melody Kloska and Matt Behrs, who had recently had their wedding ceremony on a beach across Lake Michigan.The note contained the couple's address and the wedding date, which the Dubendorfs were amazed to discover was the same as their own beach wedding date. They took it as a happy sign that both of their marriages were "meant to be," and wrote them a letter to congratulate the newlyweds—to their utter shock.21Amanda Birch found out her professor and mother lived in the same house.ShuttterstockIn a story for NPR's Hidden Brain, a radio show and podcast "about life's unseen patterns," a woman named Amanda Birch recounted an astounding discovery she made while talking to her writing professor at the University of Rhode Island. The professor mentioned that she lived in a small Vermont town, which Birch excitedly shared was the same town her mother had grown up in. When Birch told her professor her mother's maiden name, that's when things got really eerie—they realized that the professor now lived in the very same house her mother had grown up in.22Solar eclipses require such specific conditions they're almost impossible.ShutterstockJust as we have remarkable coincidences, so does our solar system. The total solar eclipse is such a strange and unlikely occurrence that throughout history, it's been interpreted as a paranormal omen and mythologized with folklore. Though the sun and moon are very different sizes, the phenomenon is able to take place because the sun is about 400 times wider than the moon, but also 400 times farther away, making the two appear the same size. According to LiveScience, if the sun were any bigger or the moon were any further away, we would likely never see a total solar eclipse, because the moon wouldn't appear wide enough to block our view.23Flight 666 flew into HEL on Friday the 13th.There are a lot of "coincidences" (read: far-flung conspiracy theories) on the internet involving the number 666, but this story happens to be true! Finnair flight 666 departed from Copenhagen and landed in Helsinki (HEL) on Friday the 13th. You read that right: Flight 666 flew straight to HEL on the most nefarious of days. Thankfully for the passengers aboard, the coincidence ended there: They landed safely at their final destination.24Two sets of twins who were separated at birth found each other.Screenshot via YouTubeIn 2015, The New York Times Magazine published the extraordinary story of two sets of identical twins that had been split up at birth and raised as two sets of fraternal twins in Bogota, Colombia.The story began when a colleague of Jorge, one of the twins, had a chance encounter with his biological twin, William, in the butcher shop where William worked. The colleague was shocked by William's incredible likeness to Jorge, and told him what she'd seen. When she showed Jorge a picture of the man in the butcher shop, they pulled up his Facebook page only to discover that he was in many pictures with someone that looked just like Jorge's own brother, Carlos. The two sets of twins eventually met one another and remain in touch today.25A couple found themselves in the same childhood photo.Shutterstock/KC SlagleAimee Maiden and Nick Wheeler were sifting through old family photographs in anticipation of their upcoming wedding, only to discover a striking coincidence: they had unknowingly taken their first picture together as children, 11 years before they had met. Though the two grew up over 300 miles apart in opposite corners of England, Nick's family had been on a beach vacation in Aimee's hometown, and the snap of the two shows Aimee and her family sitting just feet behind Nick, both playing in the sand.26A father found his long-lost daughter in the background of his photo.Screenshot via YouTubeAccording to The Daily Mail, Michael Dick and his estranged daughter, Lisa, hadn't seen each other in over 10 years when he began searching for her again. Michael and his then-wife had separated, and Lisa and her mother moved away to Suffolk, England. In the hopes that Lisa would see it and contact him, Michael reached out to a newspaper and requested that they publish a current picture of him and his other two daughters.Not only did Lisa see the picture, she realized that she and her mother were actually standing in the distant background of it. Her father had been totally unaware that she was just yards away when the photographer snapped the shot.27Sailor Richard Parker was cannibalized—just like Poe's character of the same name.Image via Wikimedia CommonsIn Edgar Allen Poe's 1838 novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, a four-man crew is shipwrecked and lost at sea without food or water. Ultimately, the team decides that they must turn to cannibalism to survive, and they draws straws to decide who will be sacrificed so that the rest may live. The character chosen (and subsequently eaten) was named Richard Parker.In 1884, a real ship was shipwrecked and one of the mates—also named Richard Parker—became ill after drinking sea water. The rest of the crew decided out of desperation to kill and eat Parker before he became too tainted by disease. The remaining men were saved, but charged with murder upon their return to shore.28Two Dennis the Menace characters emerged in different countries during the same year.Shutterstock/SpatuletailYou're probably familiar with the cartoon character Dennis the Menace, a lovable, if mischievous, little boy who burst onto the scene in March of 1951 with his dog, Ruff. But did you know that in the same month of that very same year, just across the Atlantic in the U.K., another cartoon Dennis the Menace was launched? This British Dennis was a bit more sinister than his American counterpart, intentionally rather than inadvertently causing chaos. Amazingly, there are no signs of plagiarism in this case—the characters were made independently but simultaneously, ultimately occupying a similar place in their respective country's cultural landscape.29Author Robert Morgan predicted the Titanic's tragic end.ShutterstockAuthor Robert Morgan penned The Wreck of the Titan, Or Futility in 1898, fourteen years before the Titanic would meet its end—and there are some uncanny similarities between the fictional novella and the actual events that took place. Beyond the coincidence of the ships' names and both being described as "unsinkable," it is reported that both the fictional Titan and the Titanic ran into trouble after hitting icebergs on the starboard side of the ship. They were both 400 miles off Newfoundland when they sank, both on April nights, and in both cases, the passengers suffered tragically due to a shortage of lifeboats.30Triplets met after being separated at birth as part of an experiment.CNN Films;Raw Films/IMDBThe 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers tells the story of three young men—Robby, David, and Eddie—that discovered in 1980 that they were identical triplets, adopted to different families. Two of the three boys attended the same university by coincidence, and were later contacted by the third brother after the fluke meeting was publicized by the media. It turns out that the boys had been separated as part of a "nature vs. nurture" study by a New York psychologist in the 1960s. The study was never published, but their lives were of course permanently altered by their adoptions.31The "Jim Twins" were separated at birth, but led nearly identical lives.Screenshot via YouTubeTwins and coincidences seem to go hand-in-hand. For starters, the very likelihood of conceiving twins is relatively low at 33 in 1,000, but frequently, the uncanny circumstances run deeper than that—and the "Jim Twins" are a prime example. Separated at birth and raised by different families in Ohio, they finally met at the age of 39. Both sets of adopted parents named the boys James and called them "Jim" for short. Both men married twice; remarkably, both first wives were named Linda and both second wives were named Betty. Both had one son, who they had both named James Allen. According to Ripley's, they drove the same car, had similar jobs and even vacationed in the same place!32Anne Parrish bought herself the same copy of a book she owned as a child.Image via Wikimedia CommonsIn 1929, the novelist Anne Parrish was ambling along the Seine, and stopped at a book stall to browse titles. One of her old favorites, Jack Frost and Other Stories, caught her attention, so she bought the copy for one franc. She then met her husband, who was sitting at a nearby café, and showed him the copy. His jaw dropped when he saw what was written inside: her name and address. The copy had been hers, when she was a child.33The Simpsons predicted Donald Trump's presidency.It's not the only accurate prediction to come out of The Simpsons' writer's room, but it sure is the most extraordinary: in 2000, the show ran an episode that saw Donald Trump as President. While some may argue that the show's predictions can be explained, let's also keep in mind that pundits, pollsters, most of the American population, and even Donald Trump himself were all astounded by Trump's win. Whether writers for The Simpsons have a fortune teller on speed dial or are uniquely in tune with the pulse of the American people, this was a pretty remarkable prediction (unless, of course, the cartoon gave him the idea to run).34Alec Guinness predicts James Dean's death.Warner Bros./IMDBIn the case of the car that killed James Dean, there's a real question of whether we're looking at an unfortunate series of coincidences, a curse, or some shoddy engineering. According to Jalopnik, when Alec Guinness saw the "sinister" looking car, he told Dean, "If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week." Seven days later, he was. After Dean's fatal accident, the recoverable parts of the Porsche 550 Spyder were re-sold, and went on to cause several other accidents for their new owners, including two other independent fatalities and several injuries.35The odds of the universe existing are so small, they're practically impossible.If chance meetings and plum pudding make you question the fabric of the universe, try this one on for size: As explained by Professor Katie Mack, our entire universe could be described as a coincidence, as we exist in an implausibly unlikely false vacuum that could collapse at any time if it came into contact with a true vacuum.36Enzo Ferrari's doppelgänger Mesut Ozil was born in the same year Ferrari died.Shutterstock/Natursports/Olga PopovaEnzo Ferrari, founder of the Italian car company by the same name, died in the same year that soccer player Mesut Ozil was born: 1988. This in itself would be completely meaningless, except that the two men look nearly identical in many photographs, leading people to remark that the genetic coincidence makes a strong case for reincarnation.37Twins Helen Mae Cook and Clara Mae Cook died on the same day.Screenshot via YouTubeIdentical twins Helen Mae Cook and Clara Mae Mitchell always did everything together. The sisters were born on February 2, 1932, and family members reported a close-knit bond between them from childhood through their golden years. So, when Clara died of a heart attack at the age of 83, it came as no surprise to their family that Helen would die just hours later on that same day. To the rest of us, however, the fact is undeniably eerie. Helen had been battling Alzheimer's for over six years, and could have succumbed to her disease at any time. "It's how they would have wanted it," remarked Helen's daughter in an interview with USA Today.38Xu Weifang saved a drowning father and son 30 years apart.CGTN/YouTubeIt would have been an incredible story without the coincidence: 80-year-old Xu Weifang of Jiangsu Province, China saved an eight-year-old boy from drowning, despite his advanced age and recent injuries. But, according to Newsweek, the events took an odd turn when Xu discovered that 30 years prior, he had actually saved the boy's father from drowning as well. With those odds, it's clear why some people believe in guardian angels!39Roberto Clemente became the first baseball player to reach 3,000 hits—on his last day playing ball.Shutterstock/catwalkerPittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente made baseball history by becoming the first Latin American player (and 11th in the entire Major League) to reach 3,000 hits in 1972. The coincidence of it all? This highly anticipated milestone would be his last hit ever on the Major League field, according to the MLB. The Hall of Famer was unfortunately killed shortly after in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico while en route to a humanitarian trip in Nicaragua.40Royce Burton explained how a Texas Ranger saved his life—and the ranged walked in, mid-story,As reported by CNN, Royce Burton experienced an incredible coincidence in front of an entire classroom of witnesses. Burton, a teacher at a New Jersey university, decided to tell his class a story that had taken place in 1940, back when he was a Texas Ranger in the Rio Grande. As the story went, he had become disoriented while climbing out of a canyon, and nearly lost his balance just as he reached the top. At just the right moment, another Ranger stepped in and dragged him to safety by his rifle strap. The two connected, but lost touch when they both enlisted as soldiers in World War II. Just as he recounted the story, who should walk into the classroom but Joe, the other ranger. Joe had tracked him down all those years later and just happened to walk in at the precise moment he was telling the story.

Let’s start our answer by looking at this image :This building shown is a model of the great Stupa of Kanishka [1][1][1][1] from 2nd century CE (found in Swat).Rebuilt in the 4th century CE, the stupa's symmetrically cross-shaped plinth measured 175 feet (53 m), almost the same size as Taj Mahal at 56 m square.So in 2nd century CE, Kanishka could make a Buddhist Stupa with a big round dome and 4 pillars around.Now look at this image:In the center we can see a Shivalinga. The year of construction was 1683. In the last section we will describe this image.Now we can move further.Please read the complete writing before discarding. I have tried to be as much authentic as possible. (I do believe that Mr. P N Oak’s few other writings sometime seem to be too far fetched and might appear ridiculous. Nevertheless we should keep our mind open and analyse some facts. By the way, P N Oak’s claim about Fatehpur Sikri stands validated today. See last section.)[Readers, long before Oak, one English colonel had to assert that “Taj is not a temple but a tomb.” and how he came across a fabricated persian Manuscripts regarding measurement of the Taj. See the later part of this answer].We will discuss only Contemporary travelers who were at the Taj during the period of its supposed construction between 1632–1653. Accounts later than this period should not hold much credence including architect name etc.As mentioned in Badshahnama and Kapad dwara collection of Jaipur rulers, It is a 100 percent fact [2][2][2][2][3][3][3][3]that Raja Jai Singh Grand Mansion (“Ali Manzil” and “Imarate Aalishan“ as per Badshahnama and not some “Haveli”) was acquired to build Taj.In Links number 2 & 3, Left Historians accept and argue that Shahjahan bought (?) Jai SIngh’s mansion in exchange of Land. Was the deal innocuous? We will discuss it later.(This mansion was the ancestral property of Jai Singh from his Grandfather Raja Man Singh, Akbar’s General.)Readers please note that this fact has not been mentioned by any European traveler and historians earlier. WHY? Were Britishers aware of this fact or they hid it or nobody dared to challenge the accepted line of history.Now, The “Historians” have moved from acquisition of Jaisingh’s Garden to Jaisingh’s “Haveli” to build the Taj. Even one of answer in Quora has used the term “Haveli” to prove his point. But in this age of Image to Text converters, Text to Speech translation and Language translation everything becomes clear.We will see that “Ali Manzil” was acquired to build the Taj and not some “ordinary Haveli”.(The difference between an “Ali Manzil” (Excelllent home) and Haveli should be clearly understood. Haveli can be ordinary too.)We all know that Badshanama is Shahjahan’s own chronicle written in Persian. And the text has never been fully translated.Let’s directly jump to Badshahnama Vol 1 Page 403 (۴۰۳) [4][4][4][4] :Badshahnamah Persian Volume 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveTry to open image with Google docs:بود مصحوب بال شاهزاده نامدار محمد شاه شجاع بهادر و وزیر خانومتي النساء خانم که بمزاج شناسی و کارداني بدرجه اولی پیشدحني و وکالت آن مالكه جهان ملكه جهانیان رسیده بود روانهدار الخانة اكبر آباد نمودند . و حكم شد که هر روز در راه آش بسیارو دراهم و دنانير بی شمار بفقرا و نیازمندان بدهند . و زمینی درنہایت رفعت ونزاهت که جنوب رویه آن مهر جامع امت . وپیش ازین منزل راجه مانسنگه بود . و دربنوقت براجة جيسنگهنبیرا اور تعلق داشت . برای مدفن آن بهشت موطن برگزیدند .اگرچه راجهة جيسنگ، حصول این دولت را فوز عظیم دانست . (مااز روي احتیاط که در جمیع شیون خصوصا امور دینیه ناگزیر است .در عوض آن عالي منزلی از خالصه شريفه بار مرحمت فرمودندبعد از رسیدن نعش بأن شهر کرامت بهر پانزدهم جمادي الثانيهسال آینده پیکر نورانی آن آسماني جوهر بخاک پاک سپرده آمدو متصدیان دار الخانه بحكم معلی معجالة الوقت تربت فلكمرتبتآن جهان عفت را از نظر پوشیدند - و عمارتی عالیشان و گنبدیرفيع بنیان - که تا رستخیز در بلندي يادار همت گردون رفعتحضرت صاحبقران ثاني باشد . و در استواري نمودار استقامتعزايم باني - طرح افگندند - و مهندمان دور بین و معماران صنعتآفرین چهل لک روپيه اخراجات این عمارت براورد نمودند .(The above script is read and written from right to left)Translation by Google from Persian to English: (Though we know that google translation is not perfect ).“He was the co-author of the famous Prince Mohammad Shah Shoja Bahador and Wazir KhanAnd Ms. Al-Nisa ', who is well-versed and knowledgeable about the formerDahni and her lawyer, the queen of the world, had arrivedThey built Akbar Abad House. And it was decided that every day on the way to Ash a lotAnd give innumerable dirhams and dinars to the needy. And ground inThe ultimate goal of prosperity and loneliness, the south of which is the comprehensive seal of the nation. AndIt used to be the house of Raja Mannsanga. And in time, JissingNabira Our belonged. They chose a paradise for their homeland.However, Jijing's view was that the government was a great victory. (WeAs a precaution, it is necessary in all cases, especially religious matters.Instead, the Supreme House of Mercy expressed mercyAfter the arrival of the coffin in the city of Keramat, on the 15th of Jamadi al-ThaniyahNext year, the luminous body of that celestial body was laid to restAnd those who are in charge of the house, in spite of the fact that they are in a hurryThey looked at that world of chastity - and their great mansion and domeRafie Bonyan - who, until his resurrection, remembers the efforts of Rafat in the height of remembranceHazrat Sahib Qaran is second. And in the stability of the endurance chartI mourn Bani - the planner - and the far-sighted engineers and architects of the industryAfarin Chehel Lak Rupieh estimated the evictions of this mansion.”Note: Here Badshanama says that Raja Jai Singh gave the magnificent mansion on his own will.Now we combine line nos 4 & 5 from last of Badshahnama on page 403آن جهان عفت را از نظر پوشیدند - و عمارتی عالیشان و گنبدی رفيع بنیان - که تا رستخیز در بلندي يادار همت گردون رفعتGoogle Translation: They looked at that world of chastity - and their magnificent mansion and the lofty dome of the foundation - which, until the resurrection, at a height reminiscent of Rafat's efforts.The line number 11 from start contains the words:عالي منزلیTranslation “Excellent Home”Now we use Persian eSpeak and listen to the persian words in line no 11 fromstart ,It is spoken as “Ali Manzil”.در عوض آن **عالي منزلی** از خالصه شريفه بار مرحمت فرمودندTranslation: Instead, they praised the excellent house for its noble characterThe line number 13 contains:سال آیندهIt translates to Coming year.Now let’s see word by word from line no 4 and 5 from last.و عمارتی عالیشان و گنبدی رفيع بنیانوAndعمارتی Mansion(Emaratie)عالیشان Excellent(Aalishan)و Andگنبدی Dome(Gumbad)رفيع Rafiبنیان Foundation(Boniyan)“Rafi” means "to lift, to raise (something high)”Now we use Persian eSpeak and listen to the persian words in line no 5 from last , how they are spoken.عمارتی عالیشانIt is spoken as “Emarati Alishan”گنبدیIt is spoken as “Gumbad”Bing Microsoft Translator :عمارتی Emaratiعالیشان AlishanQuestion: So How the Histrorians are using “Haveli or mansion”?Answer: Even with the Google translation Emarati Alishan becomes a magnificent mansion in English and उत्कृष्ट हवेली (Utkrisht Haveli) in Hindi.So very Next year the Body was hidden under “Emarati Alishan” with a Dome. How is it possible?Can we say that Next year Queen was laid to rest in a “Emarati Alishan” whose dome was raised from foundation ?Mr P N Oak, got it translated from a Kashmiri man from an archive. After P N Oak’s expose, a book “Taj Mahal the Illumined Tomb” in 1989 by Begley and Desai accepted that Jai Singh’s building was acquired to build the Taj. Now let’s see what Mr Oak book says! [5][5][5][5]We need to read “Next year (from the year when the building was acquired), the body was hid in a “Imarat-E-Alishan” , majestic with dome”.So Imarat-E-Alishan, the Jaisingh’s building, already had a dome (probably in some other form ).I suppose this alone text, is sufficient to possibly indicate that Tajmahal should have preexisted or in some different form .Note: A 2009 research paper by IIT Kanpur [6][6][6][6] established that India’s traditional measurement unit “Angulam” (as mentioned in Arthashahtra) was executed for Taj mahal complex planning .Let’s ignore Badshahnama !!!Now there are three possibilities :(1)Whether the mansion was completely demolished to build Taj?(2)Whether the Taj was built over the mansion?(3)Whether Taj as presented is work of some modification ?We will discuss these possibilities slightly later in the answer. We would not discuss personal life of Shahjahan or other things which are already known to users. We would also discuss whether it could have been some temple.The other’s accounts are full of half facts (no complete fact to arrive at definitive conclusion) and their detailed scrutinization presents some different picture.Let’s talk about the Great dome first !Do we have any OFFICIAL account of any interesting aspect of main dome of the Taj ?Yes we have at least one accidental one of the dome. Here it is !! (Other accidental ones regarding other parts of the Taj are described in the links at the end.)A strange discovery was made in 1946 during repairing work of the outer shell of the main dome by Archaeological Survey of India(ASI). [Ancient India, 1946, p 7 [7][7][7][7]]ASI stripped off plaster from inside the drum (Cylindrical base of the main dome) and found 8 continuous relieving arches.However, here ASI says that these eight hidden arches add to the strength of the structure. 8 arches in the solid drum were created to filled up again and then plastered over to add to strength ?We can see that each of 4 Chhatri shape kiosks around main dome, too has 8 arches.Following is the Taj cross section from James Fergusson book published in 1855 [8][8][8][8]page 437. This cross section is either from east or west direction from Taj. The Taj has double dome. Interesting thing is that the inside dome almost looks in the shape of 4 Chhatris around main dome. Also readers can see cross section of rooms at the right bottom. Also the image shows the real grave chamber is much above the river bank level. One can see two floors below main marble platform from river side.When Badhshanama says that high dome was raised, does that mean the already existing was covered with another higher one of different form ? Can’t be certain.Please note down the SKY color underline about Aurangzeb's letter in the same page. We will discuss it later.A very strong argument given in favor of Tajmahal being a Mughal architecture is that its Archs and Domes gives it more resemblance to Islamic architecture. There are buildings like Humayun tomb built before the Taj. But almost all forts and palaces in Rajasthan built by Rajput rulers, have same Archs, Chhatris and some of them have domes. Besides it, the Taj itself has some elements of Indian Architecture.Let’s first look at Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan, by Jaipur rulers (8 arches each in main and surrounding 4 chhatris)Now Photos from Amber Fort of Jaipur and other places. (The fort was first constructed before Mughals even entered into India and Tajmahal was constructed.[9][9][9][9])The Dome shaped Chhatris of Amber FortInside Amber FortSheesh Mahal Amber FortDomes on one of structure in the Ranthambore fort premise built by Rajput RulersGaib Sagar Lake, Dungarpur, RajasthanJag Mandir Udaipur, RajasthanOne of Walled City gate in Jaipur, established by Jai Singh Second.(The Govind deo temple had 7 stories. Upper Five were destroyed by Aurangzeb. Does Govind deo temple look like Hindu temple made by Raja Man Singh?[10][10][10][10])Kusum Sarovar in nearby Vrindavan constructed by Bharatpur Jat RulersThe Tajmahal(Also both image has the pietra dura work)There are many instances where pre existing Hindu temples were changed into Mosques by destroying temples' top and adding domes and other elements like Quwwat ul islam mosque in Qutub minar complex, Gyanwapi Mosque at Kashi Vishwanath, Atala devi mosque in Jaunpur, Ahmed shah mosque in Ahmedabad, Adhai din ka jhopda in Ajmer and many many others which can still be seen today.Now coming to three possibilities as described above:(1)If the entire building had to be demolished so the location must have been the sole reason to acquire that Grand mansion. Moreover, as per Badshanama Jai singh was given government land in exchange for the same. So Tajmahal was built from scratch with massive foundation laid on active river bed. But what was the need of only this piece of land? Shahjahan, being an emperor, had so much land on the river bank nearby the present location. This seems to be least probable possibility. There is no record of demolition of the mansion anywhere. In fact no contemporary record of that time and no eye witness mention about any massive foundation or mechanism.(2)Let’s say the Present Taj was built over the mansion. Moreover there are three underground floors beneath the main marble structure of Taj, with number of decorated rooms locked and sealed along with presence of Music houses (Naubatkhana ) and large well (Baoli) in Taj Mahal premise. But is it possible to build huge marble structure of four floors just right above an existing mansion without massively changing and disturbing the foundation of mansion that too on a land just adjacent to a river? This possibility seems lesser probable.(3)As pointed by P N Oak in his book , there might have been some work done on the Tajmahal by Shahjahan and it is now completely identified with him.Now what was the need of two sets of Real and Fake graves of Mumtaj and Shahjahan in Tajmahal building [11][11][11][11] ? There is no explanation for this. In fact the ones we call real graves, are not on ground but two more floor lie beneath them, which can be seen from river side even today. But we can’t see those two floors from front. How is it possible?While carrying out some repairs, Archaeological Survey of India discovered a set of fountains 3 ft below the existing ones. See Times of India 25 June 1973. Peter mundy talks about leveling of hills in front of Taj (See green underline in the next image).Radiocarbon dating of one of wooden doors of Tajmahal (now replaced by bricked wall after the expose) by Professor Marvin H. Mills. Pratt Institute, New York, gave possible date of 13th century for the door. So how could a tree be cut in 13th century and later be used as door in 16th century?LET’s TRY TO GO THROUGH THE DEAL (an example) and Scrutinize Travelers:Peter Mundy, during his visit to agra in 1631–1632 [12][12][12][12], saw extensive use of gold and silver and Marble stone in Taj Mahal. One of famous gold article was gem stud solid gold railings weighing around 400 Kg around Mumtaz’s tomb in 1632 itself when The taj construction just began as per theories. The railings were in place for ten years, and after 10 years they was removed out of fear of theft and replaced with Marble screen.Peter Mundy says “marble” being used as “ordinarie stones”?How come the things like, Gold, Silver and Marble stone which should have been used at the time of finishing, started appearing in 1632? For a building like Taj, laying massive foundation and then brickwork should have taken many years before the stage of finishing. Peter mundy, instead of mentioning base work of the building directly came to finishing aspect. And why Marble became ordinary stone as the entire construction of the Taj is of bricks. It is only the lining that is of marble and red sandstone. Which had been used in finishing in the Taj. (Yes only the Mumtaj’s tomb required gemstones to decorate the same in 1633.)Mundy says there was already a ralie of Gold about the tomb. So a very heavy Gem stud solid gold railing of Six lakhs rupees of worth that time was already around the tomb.Mundy talks that Merchants, shopkeeper etc. begin to repair streets, shops and dwellings of the area which began to be called as Taj Ganj. We know that “Repairing” happens for existing things.Let’s not speculate about Queen’s name and trust Niccolao Manucci’s account who was in India from 1653 to 1708 and described that Other Queen’s name were suffixed with “mahal”.Another important aspect about Peter mundy’s account was that he was in Agra at the time of Mumtaz-Mahal’s death.He makes no mention of news about beloved queen’s death or even some public mourning. Ok let’s leave this.Now what Peter mundy says about Tajmahal:“(In Agra) places of noate..are the Castle, King Ecbars [Akbar’s] Tombe, Tage Moholls Tombe, Gardens and Bazare”So how come a building, whose construction has just begun (assuming laying of foundations), would be place of note of Agra along with Agra fort and Akbar’s tomb? He also says that Taj gardens and Bazare are place of note.So the market which is right next to Taj was set up but others were pre-existing.Mundy said that hills had to be leveled as not to hinder the prospect. It means, as the Haveli/Mansion was some private building and hills were leveled and became place of note for public.Another traveler was Fray Sebastian Manrique, a Portuguese missionary who was in Agra for four weeks in Dec-Jan 1640-1641. His eye-witness account (one of the rare ones that actually mentions the construction) talks about “..a vast, lofty, circular structure” inside “a huge square-shaped enclosure”. [13][13][13][13][14][14][14][14]How many people do you think he found working on the site?“On this building, as well as other works, a thousand men were usually engaged”.Read that again. “A thousand men”.The figure is odd not just because of the wide divergence from the number cited by another traveler Tavernier but also because of what these men were doing, namely, “.. many were occupied in laying out ingenious gardens, others planting shady groves and ornamental avenues; while the rest were making roads and those receptacles for crystal water, without which their labour could not be carried out”Strangely, no mention of masons. Or bricklayers, or stone cutters or the thousands supposedly working on the actual building. This even as the building was “..still incomplete, the greater part of it remaining to be done”Few People says that only land, that belonged to Raja Man singh was acquired. But that land had a house on it. How? Here it is .There is a book Jehangir’s India by W H Moreland, published in 1925 [15][15][15][15]. It is actually a translation of a Dutch trading officer’s account of the times. His name was Pelsaert. He was in Agra till the end of 1627.In his description of Agra, Pelsaert wrote, “The breadth of the city is by no means so great as the length, because everyone has tried to be close to the river bank, and consequently the water-front is occupied by the costly palaces of all the famous lords, which make it appear very gay and magnificent…I will record the chief of these palaces in order.After passing the Fort, there is the Nakhas, a great market, where in the morning horses, camels, oxen, tents, cotton goods, and many other things are sold. Beyond it lie the houses of some great lords, such as Mirza Abdulla, son of Khan Azam (3000 horse); Aga Nur, provost of the King’s army (3000 horse); Jahan Khan (2000 horse); Mirza Khurram son of Khan Azam (2000 horse); Mahabat Khan (8000 horse); Khan Alam (5000 horse); Raja Bet Singh 1 (3000 horse); the late Raja Man Singh (5000 horse); Raja Madho Singh (2000 horse).(Later many of these buildings turned into ruins and Britishers demolished them.)The topography of the mogul empire is a 1631 collection which includes one Jaonnes De Laet, another Dutch officer who was in Agra till 1628 during Shahjahan’s reign. He also talks about Raja Mansingh Palace[16][16][16][16]. (He says palaces not mansions.)Let’s be doubly sure whether Raja mansigh’s PALACE existed on river side and opening towards river. The same De Laet describe this [17][17][17][17]page 171 (The Empire of the Great Mogols - by De Laet Joanne, 1631. Translated by J S. Hoyland)James B. Tavernier [18][18][18][18]:Tavernier’s account is mostly used as a base argument to frame Taj history.Tavernier came to his visit in Agra in 1640 and later in 1660s.(1)He says that Shajahan made the tomb near the “TasiMacan” as lots of foreigner came there.(2)He WITNESSED commencement and accomplishment of the building.He was in Agra in 1640 while Taj work started in 1632 with all other accounts. He saw finishing of tajmahal after 1662 (twenty two year of construction). So how in 1640, he saw commencement of work ?(3)He says that cost of scaffoldings alone cost more than entire work.How come in any building scaffoldings cost is higher than building constructions? This is never ever possible for any kind of building. Only in case of repair, modification or minor work it can be true.(4)He says that Shajahan was planning to construct his own tomb across river.This Black Taj (which historians propagated later) myth has been repeatedly busted by ASI. There is no foundation of Black Taj instead it was a octagonal tank with decorated foliated edges. India Archaeology 1979-80 -A Review, ed. D. Mitra, ASI, New Delhi, 1983, p. 72 .After above pictorial analysis, can we say that A regular Octagon size pond were made into the Black Taj foundation story which was already part of some another garden/palace complex.So what Tavernier heard a story of Shahjahan probably acquiring another complex. But that complex already had Octagonal pond along with walls and some other features.Do we have proof that long before Mr Oak, did anyone have to assert that Taj is not temple. Yes we have! Year 1843:One Col Hodgson simply wanted to establish the relationship between the Indian guz (measure of length) and the British Yard for the purposes of land survey. He published his findings in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Volume 7, 1843) [19][19][19][19] .Now the point is why anyone needed to mention this back in 1843, that Taj is not a temple but a tomb. (Page no. 56)Additional in 1843, Mr Hodgson came across a fabricated Persian Manuscript regarding Taj’s measurement. He attributed it to a work of an imposter [20][20][20][20].So the Tajmahal’s manuscript about its dimension which was provided by Dargoha to Hodgson was clearly fabricated. (Page no. 50)So what was the need of creation of a false persian manuscript before 1843?The questions put in the articles in this link along with hidden photographic evidences of Tajmahal raise very pertinent question about the Tajmahal.Was it a Vedic Temple?Another Link: Taj Mahal is Hindu Temple – Proofs, Facts ListedThere are Hundreds of points as mentioned in all these links and books which are quite interesting as mentioned in other answers as well, like:(1)Prince Aurangzeb’s letter to his father Shahjahan dated 1652 AD states that main dome,upper stories and all other smaller cupolas have serious seepage problem during rainy season when he visited his mother Mumtaz’s tomb. As per established by “historians”, Taj construction completed in 1653 AD. So how come the building which was yet to be finished developed such major issues?Aurnagzeb further says “The domes of the Mosque and Jama’at Khana leaked during the rains and were made watertight. The master builders are of the opinion that if the roof of the second storey is re-opened and dismantled and treated afresh…, the galleries and the smaller domes will probably become watertight, but they say that they are unable to suggest any measures of repairs to the main dome…”.So all Master builders of Tajmahal could not suggest anything about repairing of main dome leaking. This letter had been referred in “Ancient India 1946″ by ASI in one of image earlier.(2)Aurangzeb states next:"The Mehtab garden is innundated and looks desolate. Its scenic beauty will reappear only when the floods recede.”"That the rear portion of the building complex remains safe is a mystery. The stream keeping away from the rear wall has prevented damage.”Mehtab garden which is at the opposite bank of Yamuna from Tajmahal gets flooded by river Yamuna during rainy season but for Aurangzeb, Yamuna staying away from Tajmahal’s rear wall during floods, remains mystery. Had Shahjahan laid the building from the very foundation on Yamuna bank his son or court’s builders would have been aware about the reason. So all such recent claims about only land being acquired to build Taj seems recent concoction.The reason for the same is bastion-like wells sunk on Yamuna’s bank by the earlier builders before Shahjahan.CONCLUSION:As it is known that Raja Jai singh’s Mansion was acquired to build the Taj so the common sense clubbed with other facts should indicate that the present Taj is a aesthetically modified version (externally) of equally beautiful pre existing mansion. For instance, the implausible pace of construction, the lack of eye-witness accounts, the lack of details in Badshahnama, the wide discrepancy in contemporary accounts by foreign travellers. The damning mention of extensive leaks in the structure which puzzled the ‘master-builders’ etc.Not to mention other facts that the House/Manzil/Palace of Raja Mansingh had Gaushala(Cow shelter), Elephant and Horse stables etc.Note: An ASI report of year 1900, talks about Gaushala Burj within Taj premise.In 1909 edition of H G Keene’s Handbook to Agra, a partial plan of Tajmahal premise appeared in On the south, in the centre, there is a gateway called “Shree Darwaza”.As far as the Tajmahal being a temple of Lord Shiva is considered, it could have been a temple or temple-palace complex too as the symbol ‘OM’, ‘Cobras’, ‘Dhaturas’ and ‘Lotus’ are distinctive features of Shiva temple. There are evidences that the Taj premises had Bilvapatra trees. We know that Dhatura and Bilvaptra are exclusively used for Shiva’s worship. The temple could have passed to some other muslim rulers before Mughals and then Amber rulers at some point of time and they might have renovated the same. They could have added domes and arches as well. Nothing is certain in this regard.OMCobras and BellsBut still How can one believe a Shiva temple could have domes?Following is the Chaurasi Khamba Chhatri (84 pillars) temple of Lord Shiva (Deity in form of Shivlinga), located in Bundi Rajasthan. It was constructed by Rao Raja Anirudh Singh in 1683 [21][21][21][21]. Even to this day Shivlinga temples in north india are constructed in such style as well. Moreover building dome was widespread in the Indian subcontinent before Islam came[22][22][22][22].So finally Can we say that the the main structure or part of it should have pre existed ? Its dome might have been modified or some marble walls were erected, some removed. But deep inside of all of these, base columns should belong to original construction.The only way to put this controversy to rest is to open all underground and upper floors and sealed chambers to international and national researchers and detailed study of building and its foundation without changing or damaging the aesthetics of the building itself and to subject woods and bricks with Carbon-14, Thermoluminescence[23][23][23][23] and other available tests.Many points have been missed in this writing such as regarding claims of sight of idols in inner octagonal chamber and elsewhere during wear and tear of the building. It is urged that readers go through all books, articles and travelogues for other details. Few of them have been listed in References and Footnotes. Books by P N Oak and Dr V S Godbole are prominent ones. One or two inaccuracies, if they exist, should not be basis to discard their whole work.NOTE:In case of Fatehpur sikri, it was believed that it was build by Akbar but in 1999–2000 excavation of ASI, it was proved that the place had flourishing Jain and Hindu habitation with many temples and deities.[24][24][24][24] The same P N Oak also claimed Fatehpur Sikri to be a Hindu city in his another book.[25][25][25][25]References:The Newyork times Archive:Separating the Taj Mahal From LegendAnother article:Taj Mahal is Hindu Monument: Prof Marvin Mills, Reputed New York ArchitectDr V S Godbole book: (Tajmahal: Analysis of the Great deception)Godbole book on Taj.pdfLeft historian acceptance of Raja Jai Singh Mansion being acquired to built Taj: The real story of how Taj Mahal was builtBelow is the photograph of one of back door whose radio dating was done and this door was removed by government after the expose.Fatehpur Sikri Revelations:Excavation at Akbar's fort at Fatehpur Sikri reveals flourishing Jain and Hindu habitationFootnotes[1] Kanishka stupa - Wikipedia[1] Kanishka stupa - Wikipedia[1] Kanishka stupa - Wikipedia[1] Kanishka stupa - Wikipedia[2] Reality Check: Whose Taj Mahal is it anyway?[2] Reality Check: Whose Taj Mahal is it anyway?[2] Reality Check: Whose Taj Mahal is it anyway?[2] Reality Check: Whose Taj Mahal is it anyway?[3] The real story of how Taj Mahal was built[3] The real story of how Taj Mahal was built[3] The real story of how Taj Mahal was built[3] The real story of how Taj Mahal was built[4] Badshahnamah Persian Volume 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[4] Badshahnamah Persian Volume 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[4] Badshahnamah Persian Volume 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[4] Badshahnamah Persian Volume 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[5] English books of P.N. Oak[5] English books of P.N. Oak[5] English books of P.N. Oak[5] English books of P.N. Oak[6] Page on iitk.ac.in[6] Page on iitk.ac.in[6] Page on iitk.ac.in[6] Page on iitk.ac.in[7] Ancient India 1946 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[7] Ancient India 1946 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[7] Ancient India 1946 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[7] Ancient India 1946 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[8] The illustrated handbook of architecture : being a concise and popular account of the different styles of architecture prevailing in all ages and countries : Fergusson, James, 1808-1886 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[8] The illustrated handbook of architecture : being a concise and popular account of the different styles of architecture prevailing in all ages and countries : Fergusson, James, 1808-1886 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[8] The illustrated handbook of architecture : being a concise and popular account of the different styles of architecture prevailing in all ages and countries : Fergusson, James, 1808-1886 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[8] The illustrated handbook of architecture : being a concise and popular account of the different styles of architecture prevailing in all ages and countries : Fergusson, James, 1808-1886 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[9] Amer Fort - Wikipedia[9] Amer Fort - Wikipedia[9] Amer Fort - Wikipedia[9] Amer Fort - Wikipedia[10] Govind Dev Temple | Mathura-Vrindavan | UP Tourism[10] Govind Dev Temple | Mathura-Vrindavan | UP Tourism[10] Govind Dev Temple | Mathura-Vrindavan | UP Tourism[10] Govind Dev Temple | Mathura-Vrindavan | UP Tourism[11] Welcome To Official WebSite of Taj Mahal-U.P.Tourism[11] Welcome To Official WebSite of Taj Mahal-U.P.Tourism[11] Welcome To Official WebSite of Taj Mahal-U.P.Tourism[11] Welcome To Official WebSite of Taj Mahal-U.P.Tourism[12] The travels of Peter Mundy in Europe and Asia, 1608-1667[12] The travels of Peter Mundy in Europe and Asia, 1608-1667[12] The travels of Peter Mundy in Europe and Asia, 1608-1667[12] The travels of Peter Mundy in Europe and Asia, 1608-1667[13] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 1[13] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 1[13] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 1[13] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 1[14] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 2[14] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 2[14] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 2[14] Re-examining history: The making of the Taj – Part 2[15] Jahangir’s India : W.h.moreland : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[15] Jahangir’s India : W.h.moreland : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[15] Jahangir’s India : W.h.moreland : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[15] Jahangir’s India : W.h.moreland : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[16] The Topography of the Mogul Empire as Known to the Dutch in 1631 : Joannes de Laet, E . Lethbridge : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[16] The Topography of the Mogul Empire as Known to the Dutch in 1631 : Joannes de Laet, E . Lethbridge : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[16] The Topography of the Mogul Empire as Known to the Dutch in 1631 : Joannes de Laet, E . Lethbridge : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive[16] The Topography of the Mogul Empire as Known to the Dutch in 1631 : Joannes de Laet, E . 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Washington was a man of action not a theorist. He was intelligent but not an intellectual. He was fair but demanded everyone give his best. He had an uncommon integrity being the same inside as outside. While the story of his chopping down the Cherry tree is probably fiction it could be true.He was well read and pondered what he read. He believed in the United States and had a clear vision of what it could become. He had ideals but was also grounded in how to bring them into fruition.He was an uncommon man, a product of his time, and perfect for what the fledging country required. He shaped the office of the presidency and his vision has survived since.Washington's personality was embellished by "no false and tinsel ornaments, and was incapable of change from the varying accidents of manners, of opinions, and times." While the sentiment may have been bathed in the language of absolutes, it reflected the public image and personality that Washington worked hard at crafting.Augustine Washington, George Washington's father, died when his son was only eleven years old. Though born of provincial gentry, George Washington discerned that to be artful was not enough, and as a result developed ideals for his character at an early age. Washington's circumstances did not match British ideals of what an upwardly mobile man should be, so he labored to shape his identity in "American" terms. Washington's experiences uncovered truths that enabled him to create a unique public persona for himself within a new, burgeoning America.Washington believed that external appearance should reflect inner merit. He possessed a tall, commanding physical presence that warranted development of grace and public humility. For example, although Washington was actually six feet, three and a half inches tall, he often told people he was only six feet tall. He could be excitable and demonstrated impatience during early campaigns, but learned to channel strong passions through carefully cultivated deportment. Washington aspired to embody the Catonic image of self-mastery portrayed in Joseph Addison's The Tragedy of Cato based upon the life of Roman statesman Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis. In correspondence with close associates, Washington often quoted Cato, who exemplified patriotic virtue.Washington strategically hid his strong ambitions, demonstrated by his methodical study of political systems, world affairs, and competitive intelligence that might undermine the notion that he was anything but a reluctant politician. Further, he refused to take a salary for public service only applying to Congress to be reimbursed for expenses.Prudence and industry, exemplified by Washington, became the ideal for masculine deportment and female virtue during the Early Republic. Martha Washington initiated "Drawing Rooms," receptions in the presidential residence on Friday evenings, where Tobias Lear introduced guests. Washington demonstrated his quiet acumen for current affairs by remembering faces and names of guests and exchanging a few cordial words with each visitor.Washington read around ten newspapers each evening (he read newspapers to his wife and Tobias Lear just before his final illness) and accumulated a library of around nine hundred volumes. His ability to mask his "interests" to appear "disinterested" came to exemplify the perfect balance of moderation and detachment admired by later leaders during tumultuous times. PersonalityWashington began to be a soldier in his boyhood. During the British campaign against the West In-dies, Lawrence Washington, George's half-brother, made the acquaintance of a Dutchman, named Jacob von Braam, who afterwards came to Virginia. These young men were great heroes to the ten-year-old George. Von Braam took the lad in hand and began his military education. He drilled him in the manual of arms and sword exercise, and taught him fortification and engineering. All the theory of war which Washington knew was gained from von Braam; the practice he was soon to gain in the field.Washington's Athletic SkillMany stories are told which show Washington's athletic skill. During a surveying expedition he first visited the Natural Bridge, in Virginia. Standing almost directly under it, he tossed a stone on top, a distance of about two hundred feet. He scaled the rocks and carved his name far above all others. He was said to be the only man who could throw a stone across the Potomac River. Washington was never more at home than when in the saddle. " The general is a very excellent and bold horseman," wrote a contemporary, " leaping the highest fences and going extremely quick, without standing on his stirrups, bearing on his bridle, or letting his horse run wild."After his first battle Washington wrote to his brother, " I heard the bullets whistle about me, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound." But years after, when he had learned all there was to know of the horrors of war, he said, sadly, " I said that when I was young."PunctualityPunctuality was one of Washington's strong points. When company was invited to dinner, he made an allowance of only five minutes for variation in watches. If the guests came late he would say : " We are too punctual for you. I have a cook who does not ask if the company has come, but if the hour has come."In a letter to a friend he wrote: " I begin my diurnal course with the sun; if my hirelings are not in their places by that time I send them messages of sorrow for their indisposition."A letter to his sister, Betty, shows his businesslike manner : " If your son Howell is with you and not usefully employed in your own affairs, and should incline to spend a few months with me in my office as a writer (if he is fit for it), I will allow him at the rate of 300 a year, provided he is diligent in discharging the duties of it from breakfast till dinnertime. . . I am particular in declaring before-hand what I require, so that there may be no disappointment or false expectations on either side."His StepchildrenWashington's relations with his stepchildren show a very pleasant side of his character. We find him ordering from London such articles as " 10 shillings' worth of toys, 6 little books for children beginning to read, 1 fashionable-dressed baby to cost 10 shillings, and a box of gingerbread toys and sugar images, or comfits." Later he sent for " 1 very good spinet," for Patsey, as Martha Parke Custis was called.His niece, Hariot, who lived in the Washington home from 1785 to 1796, was a great trial to him. " She has," he wrote, " no disposition to be careful of her clothes, which she dabs about in every hole and corner, and her best things always in use, so that she costs me enough."One of the characteristics of a truly great man is his readiness to ask pardon. Once when Nelly Custis, Mrs. Washington's granddaughter, was severely reprimanded for walking alone by moon-light in the grounds of Mount Vernon, Washington tried to intercede for the girl." Perhaps she was not alone ; I would say no more," he said." Sir," said Nelly Custis, " you have brought me up to speak the truth, and when I told grandmamma that I was alone, I hoped that you would believe me."" My child," said Washington, bowing in his courtly fashion, " I beg your pardon."His TemperStuart, the portrait painter, once said to General Lee that Washington had a tremendous temper, but that he had it under wonderful control. While dining with the Washingtons, General Lee repeated the first part of Stuart's remark. Mrs. Washington flushed and said that Mr. Stuart took a great deal upon himself. Then General Lee said that Mr. Stuart had added that the President had his temper under wonderful control. Washington seemed to be thinking for a moment, then he smiled and said, " Mr. Stuart is right."His SmileThe popular idea that Washington never laughed is well-nigh exploded. Nelly Custis said, " I have sometimes made him laugh most heartily from sympathy with my joyous and extravagant spirits."When the news came from Dr. Franklin in France that help was promised from that country, General Washington broke into a laugh, waved his cocked hat, and said to his officers, " The day is ours ! " Another story is to the effect that while present at the baptism of a child of a Mr. Wood, he was so surprised to hear the name given as George Washington that he smiled. Senator Maclay tells of his smiling at a state dinner, and even toying with his fork. Various sources testify that a smile lent an unusual beauty to his face.At one time, as Washington entered a shop in New York, a Scotch nursemaid followed him, carrying her infant charge. " Please, sir, here's a bairn was named after you."" What is his name? " asked the President. " Washington Irving, sir."Washington put his hand upon the child's head and gave him his blessing, little thinking that " the bairn " would write, as a labor of love, a life of Washington.While at his Newburgh headquarters the General was approached by Aaron Burr, who stealthily crept up as he was writing, and looked over his shoulder. Although Washington did not hear the footfall, he saw the shadow in the mirror. He looked up, and said only, " Mr. Burr! " But the tone was enough to make Burr quail and beat a hasty retreat.A man who, well for himself, is nameless, made a wager with some friends that he could approach Washington familiarly. The President was walking up Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia, when the would-be. wag, in full view of his companions, slapped him on the back and said, " Well, old fellow, how are you this morning? " Washington looked at him, and in a freezing tone asked, " Sir, what have I ever said or done which induces you to treat me in this manner? "ThoughtfulnessAfter Washington's retirement from the Presidency, Elkanah Watson was a guest at Mount Vernon. He had a serious cold, and after he retired he coughed severely. Suddenly the curtains of his bed were drawn aside, and there stood Washington with a huge bowl of steaming herb tea. " Drink this," he said, " it will be good for that cough."Washington possessed in a peculiar degree the great gift of remembering faces. Once, while visiting in Newburyport, he saw at work in the grounds of his host an old servant whom he had not seen since the French and Indian war, thirty years before. He knew the man at once, and stopped and spoke kindly to him.ModestyAny collection of anecdotes about Washington is sure to refer to his extreme modesty. Upon one occasion, when the speaker of the Assembly returned thanks in glowing terms to Colonel Washington for his services, he rose to express his acknowledgments, but he was so embarrassed that he could not articulate a word. " Sit down, Mr. Washington," said the speaker, " your modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language which I possess."When Adams suggested that Congress should appoint a general, and hinted plainly at Washington, who happened to sit near the door, the latter rose, " and, with his usual modesty, darted into the library room."Washington's favorite quotation was Addison's "'Tis not in mortals to command success," but he frequently quoted Shakespeare.Taste for LiteratureHis taste for literature is indicated by the list of books which he ordered for his library at the close of the war: "Life of Charles the Twelfth," Life of Louis the Fifteenth," " Life and Reign of Peter the Great," Robertson's " History of America," " Voltaire's Letters," Vertol's " Revolution of Rome," " Revolution of Portugal," Goldsmith's "Natural History," " Campaigns of Marshal Turenne," Chambaud's " French and English Dictionary," Locke " On the Human Understanding," and Robertson's " Charles the Fifth." " Light reading," he wrote to his step-grandson, " (by this I mean books of little importance) may amuse for the moment, but leaves nothing behind."His DressAlthough always very particular about his dress, Washington was no dandy, as some have supposed. " Do not," he wrote to his nephew in 1783, " conceive that fine clothes make fine men any more than fine feathers make fine birds. A plain, genteel dress is more admired and obtains more credit than lace or embroidery in the eyes of the judicious and sensible."Sullivan thus describes Washington at a levee : " He was dressed in black velvet, his hair full dress, powdered, and gathered behind in a large silk bag, yellow gloves on his hands ; holding a cocked hat, with a cockade in it, and the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore knee and shoe buckles, and a long sword. The scabbard was of white polished leather."After Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, Washington said to his army: " My brave fellows, let no sensation of satisfaction for the triumphs you have gained induce you to insult your fallen enemy. Let no shouting, no clamorous huzzaing increase their mortification. It is sufficient for us that we witness their humiliation. Posterity will huzza for us."While there are many stories which show Washington's straightforwardness, here is one which shows much diplomacy. He was asked by Volney, a Frenchman and a revolutionist, for a letter of recommendation to the American people. This re-quest put him in an awkward position, for there were good reasons why he could not give it, and other good reasons why he did not wish to refuse. Taking a sheet of paper, he wrote :C. Volney needs no recommendation from Geo. Washington. Washington began to be a soldier in his boyhood. During the British campaign against the West In-dies, Lawrence Washington, George's half-brother, made the acquaintance of a Dutchman, named Jacob von Braam, who afterwards came to Virginia. These young men were great heroes to the ten-year-old George. Von Braam took the lad in hand and began his military education. He drilled him in the manual of arms and sword exercise, and taught him fortification and engineering. All the theory of war which Washington knew was gained from von Braam; the practice he was soon to gain in the field.Washington's Athletic SkillMany stories are told which show Washington's athletic skill. During a surveying expedition he first visited the Natural Bridge, in Virginia. Standing almost directly under it, he tossed a stone on top, a distance of about two hundred feet. He scaled the rocks and carved his name far above all others. He was said to be the only man who could throw a stone across the Potomac River. Washington was never more at home than when in the saddle. " The general is a very excellent and bold horseman," wrote a contemporary, " leaping the highest fences and going extremely quick, without standing on his stirrups, bearing on his bridle, or letting his horse run wild."After his first battle Washington wrote to his brother, " I heard the bullets whistle about me, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound." But years after, when he had learned all there was to know of the horrors of war, he said, sadly, " I said that when I was young."PunctualityPunctuality was one of Washington's strong points. When company was invited to dinner, he made an allowance of only five minutes for variation in watches. If the guests came late he would say : " We are too punctual for you. I have a cook who does not ask if the company has come, but if the hour has come."In a letter to a friend he wrote: " I begin my diurnal course with the sun; if my hirelings are not in their places by that time I send them messages of sorrow for their indisposition."A letter to his sister, Betty, shows his businesslike manner : " If your son Howell is with you and not usefully employed in your own affairs, and should incline to spend a few months with me in my office as a writer (if he is fit for it), I will allow him at the rate of 300 a year, provided he is diligent in discharging the duties of it from breakfast till dinnertime. . . I am particular in declaring before-hand what I require, so that there may be no disappointment or false expectations on either side."His StepchildrenWashington's relations with his stepchildren show a very pleasant side of his character. We find him ordering from London such articles as " 10 shillings' worth of toys, 6 little books for children beginning to read, 1 fashionable-dressed baby to cost 10 shillings, and a box of gingerbread toys and sugar images, or comfits." Later he sent for " 1 very good spinet," for Patsey, as Martha Parke Custis was called.His niece, Hariot, who lived in the Washington home from 1785 to 1796, was a great trial to him. " She has," he wrote, " no disposition to be careful of her clothes, which she dabs about in every hole and corner, and her best things always in use, so that she costs me enough."One of the characteristics of a truly great man is his readiness to ask pardon. Once when Nelly Custis, Mrs. Washington's granddaughter, was severely reprimanded for walking alone by moon-light in the grounds of Mount Vernon, Washington tried to intercede for the girl." Perhaps she was not alone ; I would say no more," he said." Sir," said Nelly Custis, " you have brought me up to speak the truth, and when I told grandmamma that I was alone, I hoped that you would believe me."" My child," said Washington, bowing in his courtly fashion, " I beg your pardon."His TemperStuart, the portrait painter, once said to General Lee that Washington had a tremendous temper, but that he had it under wonderful control. While dining with the Washingtons, General Lee repeated the first part of Stuart's remark. Mrs. Washing-ton flushed and said that Mr. Stuart took a great deal upon himself. Then General Lee said that Mr. Stuart had added that the President had his temper under wonderful control. Washington seemed to be thinking for a moment, then he smiled and said, " Mr. Stuart is right."His SmileThe popular idea that Washington never laughed is well-nigh exploded. Nelly Custis said, " I have sometimes made him laugh most heartily from sympathy with my joyous and extravagant spirits."When the news came from Dr. Franklin in France that help was promised from that country, General Washington broke into a laugh, waved his cocked hat, and said to his officers, " The day is ours ! " Another story is to the effect that while present at the baptism of a child of a Mr. Wood, he was so surprised to hear the name given as George Washington that he smiled. Senator Maclay tells of his smiling at a state dinner, and even toying with his fork. Various sources testify that a smile lent an unusual beauty to his face.At one time, as Washington entered a shop in New York, a Scotch nursemaid followed him, carrying her infant charge. " Please, sir, here's a bairn was named after you."" What is his name? " asked the President. " Washington Irving, sir."Washington put his hand upon the child's head and gave him his blessing, little thinking that " the bairn " would write, as a labor of love, a life ofWashington.While at his Newburgh headquarters the General was approached by Aaron Burr, who stealthily crept up as he was writing, and looked over his shoulder. Although Washington did not hear the footfall, he saw the shadow in the mirror. He looked up, and said only, " Mr. Burr! " But the tone was enough to make Burr quail and beat a hasty retreat.A man who, well for himself, is nameless, made a wager with some friends that he could approach Washington familiarly. The President was walking up Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia, when the would-be. wag, in full view of his companions, slapped him on the back and said, " Well, old fellow, how are you this morning? " Washington looked at him, and in a freezing tone asked, " Sir, what have I ever said or done which induces you to treat me in this manner? "ThoughtfulnessAfter Washington's retirement from the Presidency, Elkanah Watson was a guest at Mount Vernon. He had a serious cold, and after he retired he coughed severely. Suddenly the curtains of his bed were drawn aside, and there stood Washington with a huge bowl of steaming herb tea. " Drink this," he said, " it will be good for that cough."Washington possessed in a peculiar degree the great gift of remembering faces. Once, while visiting in Newburyport, he saw at work in the grounds of his host an old servant whom he had not seen since the French and Indian war, thirty years before. He knew the man at once, and stopped and spoke kindly to him.ModestyAny collection of anecdotes about Washington is sure to refer to his extreme modesty. Upon one occasion, when the speaker of the Assembly returned thanks in glowing terms to Colonel Washington for his services, he rose to express his acknowledgments, but he was so embarrassed that he could not articulate a word. " Sit down, Mr. Washington," said the speaker, " your modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language which I possess."When Adams suggested that Congress should appoint a general, and hinted plainly at Washington, who happened to sit near the door, the latter rose, " and, with his usual modesty, darted into the library room."Washington's favorite quotation was Addison's "'Tis not in mortals to command success," but he frequently quoted Shakespeare.Taste for LiteratureHis taste for literature is indicated by the list of books which he ordered for his library at the close of the war: "Life of Charles the Twelfth," Life of Louis the Fifteenth," " Life and Reign of Peter the Great," Robertson's " History of America," " Voltaire's Letters," Vertol's " Revolution of Rome," " Revolution of Portugal," Goldsmith's "Natural History," " Campaigns of Marshal Turenne," Chambaud's " French and English Dictionary," Locke " On the Human Understanding," and Robertson's " Charles the Fifth." " Light reading," he wrote to his step-grandson, " (by this I mean books of little importance) may amuse for the moment, but leaves nothing behind."His DressAlthough always very particular about his dress, Washington was no dandy, as some have supposed. " Do not," he wrote to his nephew in 1783, " conceive that fine clothes make fine men any more than fine feathers make fine birds. A plain, genteel dress is more admired and obtains more credit than lace or embroidery in the eyes of the judicious and sensible."Sullivan thus describes Washington at a levee : " He was dressed in black velvet, his hair full dress, powdered, and gathered behind in a large silk bag, yellow gloves on his hands ; holding a cocked hat, with a cockade in it, and the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore knee and shoe buckles, and a long sword. The scabbard was of white polished leather."After Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, Washington said to his army: " My brave fellows, let no sensation of satisfaction for the triumphs you have gained induce you to insult your fallen enemy. Let no shouting, no clamorous huzzaing increase their mortification. It is sufficient for us that we witness their humiliation. Posterity will huzza for us."While there are many stories which show Washington's straightforwardness, here is one which shows much diplomacy. He was asked by Volney, a Frenchman and a revolutionist, for a letter of recommendation to the American people. This re-quest put him in an awkward position, for there were good reasons why he could not give it, and other good reasons why he did not wish to refuse. Taking a sheet of paper, he wrote :C. Volney needs no recommendation from Geo. Washington.Thomas Jefferson remembered Washington fourteen years after his death, in a letter of January 2, 1814, to Dr. Walter Jones.". . . I think I knew General Washington intimately and thoroughly; and were I called on to delineate his character, it should be in terms like these."His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong, though, not so acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and as far as he saw, no judgment was ever sounder. It was slow in operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the common remark of his officers, of the advantage he derived from councils of war, where hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever was best; and certainly no General ever planned his battles more judiciously. But if deranged during the course of the action, if any member of his plan was dislocated by sudden circumstance, he was slow in re-adjustment. The consequence was, that he often failed in the field, and rarely against an enemy in station, as at Boston and York. He was incapable of fear, meeting personal dangers with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed. His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motives of interest or consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and a great man. His temper was naturally high toned; but reflection and resolution had obtained a firm and habitual ascendancy over it. If ever, however, it broke its bonds, he was most tremendous in his wrath. In his expenses he was honorable, but exact; liberal in contributions to whatever promised utility; but frowning and unyielding on all visionary projects and all unworthy calls on his charity. His heart was not warm in its affections; but he exactly calculated every man’s value, and gave him a solid esteem proportioned to it. His person, you know, was fine, his stature exactly what one would wish, his deportment easy, erect and noble; the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback. . . ."On the whole, his character was, in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent; and it may truly be said, that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great, and to place him in the same constellation with whatever worthies have merited from man an everlasting remembrance. For his was the singular destiny and merit, of leading the armies of his country successfully through an arduous war, for the establishment of its independence; of conducting its councils through the birth of a government, new in its forms and principles, until it had settled down into a quiet and orderly train; and of scrupulously obeying the laws through the whole of his career, civil and military, of which the history of the world furnishes no other example. . . ."These are my opinions of General Washington, which I would vouch at the judgment seat of God, having been formed on an acquaintance of thirty years. . Characteristics Of George Washington ."I felt on his death, with my countrymen, that ‘verily a great man hath fallen this day in Israel.’" Rediscovering George Washington . Qualities of Mind & Character