"Saving the Taj: India's finest Architecture"- Essay

“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 17^th 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.