Q:
A: Hi Chaku, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ustad Isa is a fictitious architect, often described as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal. Typically he is described as either a Turkish or Persian architect. The lack of complete and reliable information as to whom the credit for the design belongs, led to innumerable speculations. Scholars suggest the story of Ustad Isa was born of the eagerness of the British in the 19th century to believe that such a beautiful building should be credited to a European architect. Local informants were reported to have sated British curiosity regarding the origins of the Taj by also supplying them with fictitious lists of workmen and materials from all over Asia. Recent research suggests Ustad Ahmad Lahauri was the most likely candidates as the chief architect of the Taj, an assertion based on a claim made in writings by Lahauri's son Lutfullah Muhandis. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have a nice day... SSJ