In one theory, the building was attributed to Geronimo Veroneo, a Venetian goldsmith in the [G 15 / Mogul] court. This has largely been discounted in favor of a more popular view - that the Taj Mahal, an architectural marvel with the dimensions of a 20-story building, was the result of a combination of ideas and contributions from various sources. This theory would be in keeping with the general trend at the time to credit the patron rather than those involved in design and construction, as well as the tendency to work in groups. Some experts also claim that attributing the design to one person is impossible. And in any event, a study of the Taj Mahal as the pinnacle of Mogul architecture is thought to benefit more from the study of earlier Mogul tombs than it would from knowing who the architect was.
The 19th century brought its own range of theories: it was then that the Persians named Ustad Isa as the architect. However, because this name does not appear anywhere else, it is thought to have been fabricated to satisfy the British quest for an answer to the mystery.
Another account attributes the [G 11 / mausoleum] to the French goldsmith, Austin de Bordeaux. Again, this has not been proven.
Further light was shed on the subject in the 1930s when a manuscript from the 17th century, written by Lutf Allah, named his father, Ustad Ahmad of Lahore, as the architect of the Taj Mahal, as well as the Red Fort at Delhi. What is known, and corroborated by court historians, is that Ustad Ahmad was indeed among the architects employed on the Red Fort as well as on other major projects. Nothing, however, is said about his contribution on the Taj Mahal, which gives rise to doubts about his son's claim.
What is also almost certain is that among the Persian or Turkish architects which were thought to have been involved in the design, there were some Indian designers. Absolutely certain is that the complex was planned and built in its entirety; Moghul building practices did not allow subsequent additions or expansion to the original structure.
The two people who were mentioned were those in charge of its construction - Makramat Khan and Mir Abdul Karim. The person in charge of the inscriptions, Abdul Haqq, or, as he was later called, Amanat Kahn (trustworthy noble), was also responsible for the inscriptions on the tomb of Akbar, Shah Jahan's grandfather.
The claim that Europeans were involved is said today to be a result of Westerners wanting to grab a share of the glory. A less kind theory says that the Taj was built at a period when it was not fashionable for the West to praise Indian culture and tradition. They therefore explained away the Taj's magnificence by attributing it to European excellence.
Like the absence of information on the architect, details of the design process are also scarce. It is certain, however, that Shah Jahan played an active role in the design of his projects. However, one account says that while Shah Jahan was a great patron, he was far from an architect and although the concept was his, the design was not.
