“Saving the Taj: India’s finest Architecture”- Essay
Mark Twain once remarked “The world is divided between two
types of people: those who have seen the Taj and those who haven’t”. From Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Kingsley,
Russel Brand, to former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, there is no dearth
of famed personalities who have cherished and fallen in love with the “Monument
of Love” Taj Mahal.
Taj
Mahal, more often, from Persian and Arabic, “Crown of Palaces”, is a white
marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built during the
span of 1632-1653 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in loving memory of his third
wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj which has survived Mughal rule and British colonialism
is regarded as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines
elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian Architectural
styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World heritage site.
“Did
you ever build a castle in the air? Here is one, brought down to earth and
fixed for the wonder of ages”- This is how Bayard Taylor, American novelist
described the beauty of this architecture. But, now one of the 7 wonders of the
world, this 17th century’s global attraction, is losing the battle against
its latest foe-“Pollution”.
India
has experienced exponential industrial growth in recent years. Increasingly, people
have left villages for urban centres in order to try and find work. The result
of this industrialization and urbanization has often been overcrowded cities
and dense population. Agra is no exception. It has been identified as a “Pollution
Intensive Zone” by the World Health Organization. It has been estimated that
the area around the Taj contains five times the amount of suspended
particles[such as sulphur dioxide], that the Taj Mahal could handle without
sustaining everlasting damage.
Reasons
for current predicament of Taj Mahal:
1.
The rapid unsustained urbanization with
thousands of vehicles plying the roads consuming more fuels and emitting more
pollutants. Significant air and water pollution due to industries. The carbon
particles that gets deposited on the marble do not easily get washed away in
the rain. The rapid growth of industries due to the availibilty of low cost and
unregulated natural gas and subsidised fuel.
2.
Illegal factories and uncontrolled
constructions.
3.
With rapid increase in population there is more
demand for water which has meant that the water table is dropping in the river
which runs besides the monument. However, the foundations of the building are
made of wood, which must be kept moist to avoid subsidence.
In addition to this, the water is heavily
polluted because of the discharges from factories and human waste, which in
turn clogs up drains around the building.
4.
The authorities spend only a fraction of the
tourism revenue on maintenance and repairs.
5.
Due to poor management and compliance, tourists
drive up to the “ No Vehicle Zone”, hence, create pollution issues.
6.
The Yamuna river which runs through Agra is
heavily polluted by industries around
the capital Delhi.
7.
According to a recent Indo-US study by, Georgia
Institute of technology, University of Wisconsin, IIT-Kanpur and Archaelogical
Survey of India, have identified the reason for the discoloration of Taj
Mahal[Brownish-yellow].
According to the study, discoloration is
due to deposition of dust and carbon containing particles emitted in the
burning of fossil-fuels, biomass and garbage. The researchers have found that
a.
3% of the deposits to be black carbon- emitted
by vehicles and other machines that burn fossil fuels.
b.
Around 30% isorganic carbon[or brown carbon]- emitted
by burning of biomass and garbage, a common practise in the region.
c.
Remaining
being dust.
Researchers
have used a novel approach to estimate how these deposited particles would
impact light reflecting off the marble surface. According to this, black carbon
gives a greyish color to the surface, while the presence of brown carbon &
dust results in yellowish-brown hues.
Measures taken to protect and restore Taj Mahal:
1.
In 1996, the Supreme Court of India had
delivered a ruling banning the use of coal/ coke in industries located in the
Taj Trapeium Zone[TTZ]- a defined area of 10, 400 sq. Km. Around Taj to protect
it from pollution.
2.
The district administration has banned burning
of cow dung cakes in the city, while the use of coal by small units will also
be prohibited soon. The gvt. Is also planning a special drive to distribut LPG connections to the poor
people who will be affected by the ban.
3.
Over 4000 diesel run trucks and tempos have been
told to switch to CNG by mid-2015.
4.
A green buffer zone has been established around
the Taj Mahal which prohibit the construction of industrial plants and supports
the planting of trees and shrubs.
5.
Oil refineries have been ordered to reduce their
pollutant levels and coal based brick kilns have been banned or ordered to
switched to gas.
6.
Introduction of battery charged buses.
7.
To prevent rain damage and algae-growth a
special silicone-based agent have been applied to the facade.
8.
Tulsi plant releases high amounts of oxygen into
the atmosphere and this reduces the harmful effects of industrial pollution. A
program has been launched by the U.P. gvt to plant 1 million tulsi plants
around the monument.
9.
U.P. gvt has plans to develop Agra as a solar
city to save Taj Mahal from pollution
Why protect Taj Mahal at all?
1.
India’s pride Taj Mahal generates 22 crores
income per year as tourism revenue.
2.
Hotels, rest and recreation areas in the
vicinity of the monument befenfit from tourism.
3.
Tourism also gives boost to the sale of local
handicrafts including clothes, leather goods, curios made of marble, stone
carving and inlay work. Handicrafts made by prisoners are sold in emporiums.
4.
Taj Mahal provides employment to thousands who
include, guides, photographers, women, illiterates etc.
5.
The cultural value of Taj has made it a brand
throughout the world. Star hotels with its name in almost every city in the
world is the determinant of the value it posses. The USD 1 billion replica of
the Taj Mahal that the developers are planning to build in Dubai will be four
times bigger than the original monument.
6.
It also provide a unique history to local
residents to cherish and preserve.
Educating the local residents and youth also plays an
important role in preserving the monument. An active participation of all the
stakeholders of the society can only ensure smooth preservation and restoration
of this magical monument. Taj Mahal is the symbol of India’s pride. We have inherited
this monument from our forefathers and we should retain it for our chidren. If
we fail in this, it is a sin against our children.
