Shahjehan Returns: Historic Air India Boeing 747 Model Showcased at UNESCO Cultural Heritage Meeting in Delhi's Red Fort

New Delhi:

The historic Red Fort in Delhi is currently hosting a crucial UNESCO meeting focused on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, and appropriately, 'Shahjehan' has made a symbolic return to this Mughal-era palace complex to welcome delegates.

This 'Shahjehan' is not the celebrated emperor himself, but rather an impressive model of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet that once belonged to Air India's prestigious 'Emperor' fleet, named after the famed Mughal ruler.

The aircraft model stands prominently displayed in front of a British-era barrack that now houses a new gallery showcasing treasures from Air India's renowned 'Maharaja Collection'.

Approximately 300 precious objects have been exhibited across two historic barracks - 'A1' and 'A2' - to commemorate this UNESCO gathering, which India is hosting for the first time. The collection includes ancient sculptures, Chola bronzes, Mughal miniature paintings, kalamkari artworks, contemporary art pieces, and iconic vintage Air India promotional posters.

These galleries have been curated by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) based in Delhi, which now owns this remarkable collection previously displayed at the iconic Air India Building at Mumbai's Nariman Point.

The 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is taking place at the Red Fort from December 8 to 13.

Hundreds of international delegates have gathered at this UNESCO World Heritage Site for deliberations, with India showcasing its abundant tangible and intangible heritage for the occasion.

"Four new galleries have been established within the Red Fort complex. Two showcase artifacts from the Air India collection, acquired after Air India's privatization," Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal explained to PTI on Monday.

The National Museum has curated a gallery dedicated to arms and armory, while the fourth gallery features archaeological objects excavated from the Red Fort premises.

These galleries are housed within four 19th-century British-era barracks on the Red Fort grounds.

Drawing particular attention among these exhibits is the model of the vintage Air India plane, distinguished by its characteristic white and red livery, jharokha-style window design, and tail number 'VT-EBE'.

Air India shared a photo of this aircraft on X (formerly Twitter) in 2021, noting: "On 4th May 1971, 'Emperor Shahjehan' became the second B747-237B (VT-EBE) to join the Air India fleet".

The post continued, "#FlyAI: Air India spread its wings to soar high - adding another world-class Boeing 747, Jumbo Jet into its fleet, named after Emperor Shahjehan. #ExperienceRegality #PioneerAirline."

Named after legendary emperors including Ashoka, Air India had introduced this luxury fleet to patrons as 'Your Palace in the Sky' - a tagline painted on the rear section of the 'Shahjehan' aircraft model. The nose section displays its name in both English and Hindi, one on each side.

As delegates tour the gallery, they experience the royal collection assembled over decades by legendary industrialist and aviation pioneer JRD Tata and other distinguished members of his family.

Jyoti Tokas, NGMA's curator for the Air India collection galleries at Red Fort, explained, "Many of these historical objects were originally displayed at Air India's international offices."

"It represented India's soft power projection through culture by Air India during that era," she told PTI.

Tokas mentioned that the collection "was acquired in 2024 and brought to Red Fort last year. Three months ago, it was decided that as part of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee meeting for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, we should organize an exhibition from this collection."

She noted that the 'Shahjehan' aircraft model adorning the front lawns symbolically represents the spiritual return of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to the fort complex he commissioned.

Built as the palace fort of his capital, Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort complex is a UNESCO heritage site and centrally protected monument.

Famous for its massive enclosing walls, it remains a popular tourist attraction in India's national capital. Its construction was completed over ten years, between 1638 and 1648.

In 2023, the fort hosted the inaugural India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB) from December 9-15.

The Red Fort complex also contains other galleries housed in British-era barracks, featuring exhibits on the freedom struggle, the 1857 Mutiny, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design, all established over recent years.

A delegate from the UAE attending the UNESCO meeting, Walid Al Halani, visited the freedom struggle gallery on Tuesday, located in a barrack near the main pavilion hosting the session.

"It is a pleasure to be in India for the first time, to know more about this land and its people," he shared with PTI.

Al Halani, who works in the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, emphasized the importance of such gatherings for preserving cultural heritage amid rapid development and urbanization globally.

"The first or ultimate goal of such meetings is to safeguard people's memories, memories of place, and the soul of place... amid rapid urbanization, we are trying to save what we can before it's too late."