Resilient metaphor of Taj is a lesson to all bigots
■ It takes more than petty politics to undermine a global icon. The UP chief minister had slammed it for not representing Indian culture, and following the nudge from the top, the Taj Mahal could not find a mention in the initial 32-page UP tourism booklet. However, Brand Taj sustained, as was proved by Donald Trump’s latest homage to the monument.
Nations are defined by visually imagined metaphors that capture the essential spirit and image of the sovereign. The Third Republic or France is instantly perceived by the auto-image of the famous wroughtiron tower in a lattice formation, the Eiffel Tower. The emblematic tower, that was described by poet Jean Cocteau as the “beautiful lace giraffe”, has had many who derided it as “monstrous” and “useless” and it is today amongst the most visited sites in the world, with well over 300 million who have already visited the same.
Similarly, the pyramidshaped masonry structures that date back to the Old and Middle Kingdom period in the Egyptian deserts are the definitive image of Egypt. Public consciousness is defined around the nomenclature Al Ahram (the pyramid) that straddles the Egyptian reality — these priceless antiquities bear 11 per cent of GDP through tourism and almost 15 per cent of forex for modern Egypt. Such iconography ought to be beyond politics, persuasions and churns of the times that be, as these transcend time and the pettiness of topical instincts that could militate against the original “idea” behind such icons.
Thus, an Eiffel Tower is more than an entrance to a world fair (as originally made), and the pyramids that predate the subsequent Islamic-Arab identity of the Egyptian nation a reality. While Eiffel is not one of the seven wonders of world, the Giza Necropolis is — either way, beyond designations the essential spirit and image of France is now vested in the Eiffel, as is the personification of Egypt in the pyramids.
Globally, the exquisite “idea” of India at its most aesthetic, sophisticated and poetic form is imagined in the unparalleled marvel of Taj Mahal at Agra, rightfully labelled as one of the seven wonders of the world. The ivory-white mausoleum on the banks of holy Yamuna, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being “one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. This symbol of enduring love was described by the celebrated writer-poet Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of time” — an architectural magnificence that draws the highest numbers of spell-bound tourists, anywhere in India. The craftsmanship that went behind this masterpiece entailed diamonds from Panna, lapis lazuli and sapphire from Arabia, turquoise from Tibet, jade and crystal from China, jasper from Punjab, and so on, remains internationally acknowledged as an unparalleled piece of architecture. Yet the various challenges that underlie Indian tourism industry has ensured that the Taj Mahal is far from reaping its true potential in terms of tourism. While it has established itself as a priceless and irreplaceable “brand” globally, it remains under-harnessed. The travel and tourism index for 2019 still ranks India at 34 out of 140 countries, with countries like Finland, Croatia, Luxembourg above it and a Malta ranked at 35th, on the heels of India!
Amidst this enviable opportunity, the crown jewel of India came under concerted and deliberate diminishment, owing to the politic a l instincts of the day. The fact that the monument was made by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, was reason enough for it to fall under a revisionist political agenda which incredously saw the same as a “blot” on India. The sudden and narrow angle of Islamic identity afforded on the monument betrayed the syncretic and civilisational underpinnings that made it uniquely “Indian” i.e. a celebration of the diverse art and culture, that is amongst the finest in the world, and acknowledged so. The chief minister slammed it for not representing Indian culture, and following the nudge from the top, Taj Mahal could not find a mention in the initial 32-page tourism booklet, “Uttar Pradesh Tourism — Unlimited Possibilities”. While developing other tourism sites in the state is certainly laudable, the fact that it was “at the cost of” Taj Mahal was truly small-spirited, that too on account of an unmistakable religiousity. However, it takes more than petty politics to undermine a global icon that is revered for its irreplaceable majesty, and the resilience of the “brand” Taj Mahal, sustained. An extreme example of reneging on one’s civilisational footprint, just because it did not fit into the boorish interpretation of the political leadership happened in neighbouring Afghanistan,
The fact that the monument was made by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, was reason enough for it to fall under a revisionist agenda
where the Taliban had bombed the 6th century Buddhas of Bamiyan — the cultural heritage was destroyed and the Taliban leader Mullah Omar was left saying, “What are you complaining about? We are only waging war on stones!” The history of nations is constantly evolving and even though Afghanistan is decidedly Islamic today, it cannot wish away its Achaemenid, Macedonian, Indo-Mauryan or Buddhist past that predated the advent of Islam. Likewise, the Indian soil is a celebrated tapestry of civilisational diversity that cannot be matched for its intricate cultures and sophisticated heritage, that has seeped in its soil — with the Taj Mahal, as amongst its most refined renditions.
Recently the Presidential visit of Donald Trump necessitated a singular “one-off” detour and it was unsurprisingly, to the Taj Mahal. The personal request of the President of United States had to be heeded and many who had willy-nilly derided the monument, stood in line to showcase the Indian treasure to foreign dignitaries who simply said that it was “awe-inspiring”. The power of the brand, Taj Mahal, could be gauged by the fact that Donald Trump, who had never visited the Taj Mahal before, had famously christened one of his properties, “Trump Taj Mahal”, several decades ago! Ironically, it is misplaced hate that attempts to smear the symbol of love that the world so adores and is the pride of India.
The Taj Mahal is today a metaphor and an invaluable lesson for those who seek to rewrite history, with a constant eye on politics. History, culture, art, languages and monuments do not necessarily belong to any religion, they belong to the entirety of land that cradles this richness. Taj Mahal is not just a Mughal or Islamic realm — on the contrary, it is quintessentially Indian, and a national treasure that needs to be owned collectively with a justifiable pride.