8 ms·

Twilight of the Taj Mahal

75 points by fredley 8y ago

hahla 8y ago
It'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.
- balladeer 8y ago
  Money is thrown at issues in India when there’s a direct individual (or a few) beneficiary from that money throwing and the solving of that problem was not even the last point on the agenda. So I’ll present an example. Let’s talk about a 10km road that needs repair. The discussion would start at points like how much the contractors would make, what will be the cut of tie engineer, chief engineer, MLA, MP, district administration if they are involved. Whether a cut has to go to the CM too? Or tje party fund. Things of practical interests. How strong the road will be, how safe it would be, quality assurance etc are a matter of formality and routine which also ensures there’s another repair after a year or two and everyone is happy again. However if the intention is to really solve a problem then it takes years - committee after committee, studies after studies - became no one is interested.
mc32 8y ago
Though 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.
- mirimir 8y ago
  Shoddy construction or not, it is a beautiful design. Can you recommend a source for that? I can imagine that he was in a hurry to have it built before he died.
  - mc32 8y ago
    Not really. Just a comment by a visitor. It’s said it took thousands of slaves about 20 years to build but aside from the architect they may not have had expertise.
- mayankkaizen 8y ago
  This is idiotic comment at some level, sorry to say. Any historical monument should be preserved not only because it is beautiful but because it captures history. It is the history which is not written in textbooks, it is the history which is right in front of you to see. Taj is just a building but it tells so many stories about architecture, mogul empire, passion and what not.
- kamaal 8y ago
  >>It was slapped together by slaves >>They might as well let it crumble. It's a grotesque monument which tourists adore. How do you think they built the Pyramids of Giza or the Colosseum of Rome?
  - eesmith 8y ago
    Regarding the Pyramid of Giza, the current best understanding is: > .. that they were paid laborers who took great pride in their work and were not slaves, as was previously thought. Evidence from the tombs indicates that a workforce of 10,000 laborers working in three-month shifts took around 30 years to build a pyramid. Most of the workers appear to have come from poor families. Specialists such as architects, masons, metalworkers and carpenters, were permanently employed by the king to fill positions that required the most skill. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex#Tombs_of_the_pyramid_builders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex#Tombs_of_...
jeremysalwen 8y ago
Seems 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?
- svat 8y ago
  In India, the Supreme Court is enthusiastically involved in many things. It considers it to be its job to keep the government honest, etc. See this blog post on the tenure of the most recent Chief Justice of India, by a lawyer and expert: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/ends-without-means-outcomes-without-reasons-a-look-back-at-dipak-misra-and-the-constitution/ https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/ends-without-... (See also: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/constituting-constitution-benches-the-dipak-misra-years/ https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/constituting-... )
  - jeremysalwen 8y ago
    It seems to me based on the articles you linked that the Indian Supreme Court flagrantly disregards the constitution regularly!
- najarvg 8y ago
  Interesting that you bring it up. The Indian Supreme court has always been very active and seems to provide a sense of "balance" to the political chaos that is persistent. There was a very good (albeit very west-centric) article in NYT about this - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/world/asia/india-supreme-court-modi.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/world/asia/india-supreme-... I remember, back in 1995, reading a big banner hung up on a very prominent intersection in the downtown Mumbai area, that celebrated a supreme court decision on a controversial political corruption case by declaring "Thanks to the supreme court, India survives despite it's politicians. That, at that time, summed up the feelings of many urban middle class residents.
- skissane 8y ago
bobokanta 8y ago
"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
- sremani 8y ago
  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.
  - FraaJad 8y ago
    "dues have been paid". was it a direct desposit, sir?
conroy 8y ago
The 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.
azernik 8y ago
This 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.
thrower123 8y ago
So, 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.
osrec 8y ago
"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.
- lokeshk 8y ago
  Wow, so very well sad! As another person of Indian origin, coolately agree.
pastelsky 8y ago
This, even as the state government is spending resources on changing names of cities all over the state, and ironically, `Taj Mahal` itself.
nitwit005 8y ago
It might be under-repaired, but entering "Taj Mahal maintenance" into Google shows there are tons of travel articles on their maintenance efforts, and which parts will be under repair when. It seems a bit questionable that this is totally omitted.
- electriclove 8y ago
  This is from the BBC which has a definite negative reporting bias on anything to do with India.
  - khrm 8y ago
    Wrong. BBC is as much fair on this issue as Indian Media state or Supreme Court. https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-responsible-for-taj-mahal-s-upkeep-1300907-2018-07-31 https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-resp... Also, BBC is quite fair, unlike Indian Media which doesn't have the guts to take Modi in to account for not holding a single press conference in his 4 year rule. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2sc9A2aVtM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2sc9A2aVtM
- khrm 8y ago
  Are you claiming Supreme Court of India itself is wrong to pull up Archaeological Survey of India? https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-responsible-for-taj-mahal-s-upkeep-1300907-2018-07-31 https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-resp...
- newen 8y ago
  I went to the Taj Mahal this July and there were lots of repairs being done.
NTDF9 8y ago
The problem with maintenance in India is lack of will power in local governments (not national government). State and local governments in India are filled with incompetent fools (pardon my French) who only want the power and fame. They're often uneducated, often unexposed to the rest of the world and have the ego of a supreme emperor to do anything that would improve their citizen's lives. Education is a major problem in India. Until they achieve an entire generation of great education all the way down to villages, this will not improve.
msiyer 8y ago
The monument is being neglected. The current government has an attitude which is very similar to ”not invented here" whereby anything not created by Hindus is not to be valued: https://www.firstpost.com/india/yogi-adiyanath-govt-in-uttar-pradesh-ignoring-taj-mahal-betrays-its-myopic-view-of-history-4105095.html https://www.firstpost.com/india/yogi-adiyanath-govt-in-uttar... Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity. People in India behave as if it is. Our past was glorious. It, however, cannot guarantee a similar future unless people wake up.
- neilsense 8y ago
  > Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity What do you mean by this?
- jhacker123 8y ago
  > government has an attitude which is very similar to ”not invented here" whereby anything not created by Hindus is not to be valued Curious, what are list which is created by Hindus which is well maintained and valued by government?
  - kamaal 8y ago
    Another handle created merely minutes ago merely to reply to comments. How frequently do you people monitor forums like HN? How many people work on this? Must be a dream job to get paid to read HN all day.
    - jhacker123 8y ago
      Yeah, i'm new register user. why are you so pissed off, HN community not well come new user?
    - pritishc 8y ago
      I don't know about the other guy, but hopefully you'll bear with me since I've been on HN for a while now and wasn't paid by a government IT cell to comment (since you seem to be implying that). I am not sure what the parent commenter means by "Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity". Do they mean that Hindus don't practice Abrahamic principles? Because other than that, I'm not able to understand what they mean.
ihtjmbbc123 8y ago
in actual fact internet hindus complain the asi spends too much money on this and not on actual archaeological research my opinion this should be left to private muslim groups who might be interested in its preservation hindus found out its history which was suppressed by marxists and are not likely to keep paying for it cultural death by tourists of the kind seen in japan nowadays is not desirable either
- statguy 8y ago
  > my opinion this should be left to private muslim groups who might be interested in its preservation What does it say about a country when a large number of its people don't want to maintain its most famous monument because it happens to have been built by a king of the minority religion? What about other monuments - should the maintenance of India Gate be left to private Christian groups? > hindus found out its history which was suppressed by marxists and are not likely to keep paying for it What was this history? I hope you are not referring to something like https://www.booksfact.com/archeology/taj-mahal-original-name-tejo-mahalaya-ancient-siva-temple-built-1155-ad.html https://www.booksfact.com/archeology/taj-mahal-original-name... a theory being pushed by charlatan historians, and eagerly lapped up by internet hindus who suffer from a deep insecurity that India's most famous monument happens to be a "Muslim" monument.
  - ihtjmbbc123 8y ago
    it says that hindus dont want to pay to glorify islamic invasions which led to massive loot plunder and genocide of hindus same for the european colonial loot and plunder christians didnt even apologize for goa inquisition
sxp62000 8y ago
What a shame, it's literally falling apart. I remember visiting the Taj Mahal back in the day (15-20 years ago) on a full moon night, do they still open on certain nights? Imagine how it would shimmer in the dark, if they still had all the precious stones encrusted in the marble!
fellellor 8y ago
>In 1998 the Supreme Court established a special exclusion area to keep heavy industry at a distance from the monument. The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) covers an area of more than 10,400 sq km. How was this ever going to be workable in a country like India, with so much unemployment and massive requirement for industry, power, infrastructure etc. In these scant conditions, obviously there will be little resources for cleaner, greener alternatives to fulfill economic requirements. And because people are resourceful they will make do with whatever is at hand which for example are, unfortunately, the dirtier diesel generators, coal fired plants, and polluting vehicles. All this is tragec to be sure, but people will choose their own livelihoods over a beautiful mausoleum.
mdani 8y ago
The need to maintain Taj is not new, in fact just a couple of decades after its construction in 17th century, the dome leaked and it had to be repaired. As Mughal reign fell into decline, the plunder began and the British were not left behind. The precious stones were removed from inlays, furniture was plundered and even plans were made to dismantle and auction the marble. One must evaluate the decline of Taj in this broader context. It is currently maintained by ASI and they have replaced many precious stones abd repaired the Taj as much as they can. Unfortunately they do not always follow the same medival construction methods and do not have adequate funds, so repairs do fail. Polloution is terrible in Delhi- Agra corridor but one must balance the needs of the poor to earn a living vs. the needs of the tourists to see the Taj in pristine condition. For this reason a blanket ban will not work in practice. I think the BBC article is one sided, and the complexity of the situation needs to be taken into account before painting a pessimistic picture. Aga Khan trust has done excellent work in Humayun's tomb and I think it is a better model for moving forward. https://youtu.be/eCLEFJU1p5A https://youtu.be/eCLEFJU1p5A

75 points by fredley 8y ago

It'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.

balladeer 8y ago
Money is thrown at issues in India when there’s a direct individual (or a few) beneficiary from that money throwing and the solving of that problem was not even the last point on the agenda. So I’ll present an example. Let’s talk about a 10km road that needs repair. The discussion would start at points like how much the contractors would make, what will be the cut of tie engineer, chief engineer, MLA, MP, district administration if they are involved. Whether a cut has to go to the CM too? Or tje party fund. Things of practical interests. How strong the road will be, how safe it would be, quality assurance etc are a matter of formality and routine which also ensures there’s another repair after a year or two and everyone is happy again. However if the intention is to really solve a problem then it takes years - committee after committee, studies after studies - became no one is interested.

mc32 8y ago

Though 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.

mirimir 8y ago
Shoddy construction or not, it is a beautiful design. Can you recommend a source for that? I can imagine that he was in a hurry to have it built before he died.
- mc32 8y ago
  Not really. Just a comment by a visitor. It’s said it took thousands of slaves about 20 years to build but aside from the architect they may not have had expertise.
mayankkaizen 8y ago
This is idiotic comment at some level, sorry to say. Any historical monument should be preserved not only because it is beautiful but because it captures history. It is the history which is not written in textbooks, it is the history which is right in front of you to see. Taj is just a building but it tells so many stories about architecture, mogul empire, passion and what not.
kamaal 8y ago
>>It was slapped together by slaves >>They might as well let it crumble. It's a grotesque monument which tourists adore. How do you think they built the Pyramids of Giza or the Colosseum of Rome?
- eesmith 8y ago
  Regarding the Pyramid of Giza, the current best understanding is: > .. that they were paid laborers who took great pride in their work and were not slaves, as was previously thought. Evidence from the tombs indicates that a workforce of 10,000 laborers working in three-month shifts took around 30 years to build a pyramid. Most of the workers appear to have come from poor families. Specialists such as architects, masons, metalworkers and carpenters, were permanently employed by the king to fill positions that required the most skill. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex#Tombs_of_the_pyramid_builders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex#Tombs_of_...

jeremysalwen 8y ago

Seems 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?

svat 8y ago
In India, the Supreme Court is enthusiastically involved in many things. It considers it to be its job to keep the government honest, etc. See this blog post on the tenure of the most recent Chief Justice of India, by a lawyer and expert: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/ends-without-means-outcomes-without-reasons-a-look-back-at-dipak-misra-and-the-constitution/ https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/ends-without-... (See also: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/constituting-constitution-benches-the-dipak-misra-years/ https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/constituting-... )
- jeremysalwen 8y ago
  It seems to me based on the articles you linked that the Indian Supreme Court flagrantly disregards the constitution regularly!
najarvg 8y ago
Interesting that you bring it up. The Indian Supreme court has always been very active and seems to provide a sense of "balance" to the political chaos that is persistent. There was a very good (albeit very west-centric) article in NYT about this - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/world/asia/india-supreme-court-modi.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/world/asia/india-supreme-... I remember, back in 1995, reading a big banner hung up on a very prominent intersection in the downtown Mumbai area, that celebrated a supreme court decision on a controversial political corruption case by declaring "Thanks to the supreme court, India survives despite it's politicians. That, at that time, summed up the feelings of many urban middle class residents.
skissane 8y ago

bobokanta 8y ago

"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

sremani 8y ago
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.
- FraaJad 8y ago
  "dues have been paid". was it a direct desposit, sir?

conroy 8y ago

The 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.

azernik 8y ago

This 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.

thrower123 8y ago

So, 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.

osrec 8y ago

"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.

lokeshk 8y ago
Wow, so very well sad! As another person of Indian origin, coolately agree.

pastelsky 8y ago

This, even as the state government is spending resources on changing names of cities all over the state, and ironically, `Taj Mahal` itself.

nitwit005 8y ago

It might be under-repaired, but entering "Taj Mahal maintenance" into Google shows there are tons of travel articles on their maintenance efforts, and which parts will be under repair when. It seems a bit questionable that this is totally omitted.

electriclove 8y ago
This is from the BBC which has a definite negative reporting bias on anything to do with India.
- khrm 8y ago
  Wrong. BBC is as much fair on this issue as Indian Media state or Supreme Court. https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-responsible-for-taj-mahal-s-upkeep-1300907-2018-07-31 https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-resp... Also, BBC is quite fair, unlike Indian Media which doesn't have the guts to take Modi in to account for not holding a single press conference in his 4 year rule. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2sc9A2aVtM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2sc9A2aVtM
khrm 8y ago
Are you claiming Supreme Court of India itself is wrong to pull up Archaeological Survey of India? https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-responsible-for-taj-mahal-s-upkeep-1300907-2018-07-31 https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/sc-holds-asi-resp...
newen 8y ago
I went to the Taj Mahal this July and there were lots of repairs being done.

NTDF9 8y ago

The problem with maintenance in India is lack of will power in local governments (not national government). State and local governments in India are filled with incompetent fools (pardon my French) who only want the power and fame. They're often uneducated, often unexposed to the rest of the world and have the ego of a supreme emperor to do anything that would improve their citizen's lives. Education is a major problem in India. Until they achieve an entire generation of great education all the way down to villages, this will not improve.

msiyer 8y ago

The monument is being neglected. The current government has an attitude which is very similar to ”not invented here" whereby anything not created by Hindus is not to be valued: https://www.firstpost.com/india/yogi-adiyanath-govt-in-uttar-pradesh-ignoring-taj-mahal-betrays-its-myopic-view-of-history-4105095.html https://www.firstpost.com/india/yogi-adiyanath-govt-in-uttar... Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity. People in India behave as if it is. Our past was glorious. It, however, cannot guarantee a similar future unless people wake up.

neilsense 8y ago
> Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity What do you mean by this?
jhacker123 8y ago
> government has an attitude which is very similar to ”not invented here" whereby anything not created by Hindus is not to be valued Curious, what are list which is created by Hindus which is well maintained and valued by government?
- kamaal 8y ago
  Another handle created merely minutes ago merely to reply to comments. How frequently do you people monitor forums like HN? How many people work on this? Must be a dream job to get paid to read HN all day.
  - jhacker123 8y ago
    Yeah, i'm new register user. why are you so pissed off, HN community not well come new user?
  - pritishc 8y ago
    I don't know about the other guy, but hopefully you'll bear with me since I've been on HN for a while now and wasn't paid by a government IT cell to comment (since you seem to be implying that). I am not sure what the parent commenter means by "Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity". Do they mean that Hindus don't practice Abrahamic principles? Because other than that, I'm not able to understand what they mean.

ihtjmbbc123 8y ago

in actual fact internet hindus complain the asi spends too much money on this and not on actual archaeological research my opinion this should be left to private muslim groups who might be interested in its preservation hindus found out its history which was suppressed by marxists and are not likely to keep paying for it cultural death by tourists of the kind seen in japan nowadays is not desirable either

statguy 8y ago
> my opinion this should be left to private muslim groups who might be interested in its preservation What does it say about a country when a large number of its people don't want to maintain its most famous monument because it happens to have been built by a king of the minority religion? What about other monuments - should the maintenance of India Gate be left to private Christian groups? > hindus found out its history which was suppressed by marxists and are not likely to keep paying for it What was this history? I hope you are not referring to something like https://www.booksfact.com/archeology/taj-mahal-original-name-tejo-mahalaya-ancient-siva-temple-built-1155-ad.html https://www.booksfact.com/archeology/taj-mahal-original-name... a theory being pushed by charlatan historians, and eagerly lapped up by internet hindus who suffer from a deep insecurity that India's most famous monument happens to be a "Muslim" monument.
- ihtjmbbc123 8y ago
  it says that hindus dont want to pay to glorify islamic invasions which led to massive loot plunder and genocide of hindus same for the european colonial loot and plunder christians didnt even apologize for goa inquisition

sxp62000 8y ago

What a shame, it's literally falling apart. I remember visiting the Taj Mahal back in the day (15-20 years ago) on a full moon night, do they still open on certain nights? Imagine how it would shimmer in the dark, if they still had all the precious stones encrusted in the marble!

fellellor 8y ago

>In 1998 the Supreme Court established a special exclusion area to keep heavy industry at a distance from the monument. The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) covers an area of more than 10,400 sq km. How was this ever going to be workable in a country like India, with so much unemployment and massive requirement for industry, power, infrastructure etc. In these scant conditions, obviously there will be little resources for cleaner, greener alternatives to fulfill economic requirements. And because people are resourceful they will make do with whatever is at hand which for example are, unfortunately, the dirtier diesel generators, coal fired plants, and polluting vehicles. All this is tragec to be sure, but people will choose their own livelihoods over a beautiful mausoleum.

mdani 8y ago

The need to maintain Taj is not new, in fact just a couple of decades after its construction in 17th century, the dome leaked and it had to be repaired. As Mughal reign fell into decline, the plunder began and the British were not left behind. The precious stones were removed from inlays, furniture was plundered and even plans were made to dismantle and auction the marble. One must evaluate the decline of Taj in this broader context. It is currently maintained by ASI and they have replaced many precious stones abd repaired the Taj as much as they can. Unfortunately they do not always follow the same medival construction methods and do not have adequate funds, so repairs do fail. Polloution is terrible in Delhi- Agra corridor but one must balance the needs of the poor to earn a living vs. the needs of the tourists to see the Taj in pristine condition. For this reason a blanket ban will not work in practice. I think the BBC article is one sided, and the complexity of the situation needs to be taken into account before painting a pessimistic picture. Aga Khan trust has done excellent work in Humayun's tomb and I think it is a better model for moving forward. https://youtu.be/eCLEFJU1p5A https://youtu.be/eCLEFJU1p5A