Twilight of the Taj Mahal
bbc.co.uk
Twilight of the Taj Mahal
1–10 of 96 posts
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#2It's crazy to me that if we disregard all of the historical importance, the government still doesn't have the foresight to invest in maintaining it's number one tourist destination in the country. However, I fear throwing money at the problem is a temporary solution for the actual structure where fixing the surrounding pollution is more important.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#3Though maintenance is an issue, I’ve been told another issue is craftsmanship. It was slapped together by slaves to serve as a tomb for the third wife of an emperor who had a harem of 2000 women yet saw it fit to drag his favorite into the battlefield for his comfort (she succumbed to complications bearing no. 14 in the 19th year of her marriage). They might as well let it crumble. It's a grotesque monument which tourists adore.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#4Seems surprising to me that the supreme court is so involved in this issue. In the United States, the supreme court tries its hardest to avoid answering a question if it can, and certainly tries to avoid anything that looks like it's writing a new law.
Can someone who is more knowledgeable comment on this?
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#5"The Taj is so wasteful, so decadent and in the end so cruel that it is painful to be there for very long. This is an extravagance that speaks of the blood of the people." VS Naipaul
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#6The Taj Mahal was the highlight of my trip to India. It surpassed all expectations. I hope that the Indian government can figure out how to save it before it's too late, but this article gives me little to no faith.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#7"The Taj is so wasteful, so decadent and in the end so cruel that it is painful to be there for very long. This is an extravagance that speaks of the blood of the people." VS Naipaul
Irrespective whether it bankrupted the Moghuls and made the successor of the throne, epitome of rape, pillage and plunder.. those dues have been paid, and there is no un-turning.
As repulsive the history behind the Taj and its consequences are, ruining it with a cocktail of incompetence, corruption and apathy is not the step forward.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#8This is a phase Europe went through as well - many of the great Medieval and Renaissance cathedrals were badly damaged by the pollution of industrialization, and had to be restored after pollution got under control. Luckily, that seems to have worked out (at great expense), and was a major rallying symbol for the environmentalist movement.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#9So, the marble is deteriorating because of acid rain, I presume? At least it hasn't been looted like so many wonders of the world. I imagine the pyramids must have been breathtaking with their original sheathing.
Re: Twilight of the Taj Mahal
#10"Incredible India", as the country's tourism slogan claims, is fast disappearing. I know this may get downvoted by fans of India, but I'm just saying it as I see it. If it matters, I'm of Indian origin too.
First of all, India has everything it needs to be amazing. A young workforce, driven, technical people, a nice selection of flourishing industries, bucket loads of natural resources and abundant sources of renewable energy. Yet it seems to make use of those things poorly.
Whenever I step into Delhi, or any major Indian city, I feel like I'm stepping into chaos. The buildings are blackened and poorly planned. The sky, perpetually grey with pollution. The traffic is idiotic. I'm convinced the volume of cars is not the problem, but instead lack of road etiquette is to blame. Every car, whether it be a cheap Honda or an expensive S-class has a dent or two in it. Everyone's beeping horns for no apparent reason, and crawling forward at ten meters a minute. It's a great metaphor for the country as a whole - it appears loud and active, but the actual activity is somewhat unsubstantial.
While I was in Delhi about 2 weeks ago, my father asked me to advise the 17 year old son of one of his employees. I met the guy - a studious, fiercly competitive lad, but pleasant nonetheless. He wanted to become a doctor; I asked him "why a doctor?". His response was that he could make a lot of money in that field, specifically because people come to you when they're in need and in trouble. I then asked him "What about helping people? Interest in the subject itself? Passion?". He fobbed those questions off like they simply didn't matter. (Aside: the medical system in India is ruthless - if you're ill, you will likely be taken advantage of, and it can bring you and your family to your knees very, very quickly. Even my own grandfather's gold rings and dental filings mysteriously disappeared when he passed away in the most reputable hospital in Delhi).
Why am I telling you the above story? Well, because I see this mindset almost everywhere in India. Cold hearted profiteering is killing passion and genuine interest amongst vast swathes of society. It's horribly unpleasant, and it doesn't surprise me that things of cultural importance are taking such a back seat. In the case of the Taj, I bet the money was available, but improperly used or swindled away (adminstrative government officials in India are known for their corruption - it's one of the perks of the job apparently). Anyway, the crumbling Taj is simply another metaphor for the crumbling culture of India, and it really does make me rather sad.