Who would not say these words after seeing the Taj. It sure is fit to be among the 8 wonders of the world. Seeing it in the photographs or on television is totally different from visiting and exploring the TAJ at Agra. You are just awestruck when you stand in front of the TAJ. You feel so small and minor in front of that enormous marble structure. Right now I cant find words to write about it.
Definetly one of the most beautiful Mughal monuments, this structure was built by Emperor Shahjan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, it took 22 years to complete this beautiful monument. It is one of the finest example of Mughal architecture which combines Persian, Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. This building is built in white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones which glow and sparkle on a full moonlit night!!! What a sight it must be!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The tomb is in the centre of the building. The structure stands on a square platform and is symmetrical in shape. It is topped by a large onion shaped dome and a 10 feet finial on top of it. The finial has a moon shaped struture and a "kalash" on top of it. The moon is a typical Muslim motif and the kalash is constructed in honor of Shahjan's grandmother, Queen Jodhabai who was a hindu. At the base of the dome on the square building are 4 small tombs at 4 corners. The square platform on which the structure stands also supports 4 minarets, one in each corner. These minarets are tilted by 3 degreed to the outisde of the platform so that if due to any calamity, they fall, they do not fall on the TAJ!!!
The whole complex has designs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjan's jewellery, the design of Mumtaz's crown, passages from the holy Quran and various such art forms. It also has carvings of the design which resembles the Kohinoor diamond!!!
The tombs inside are placed in the centre of an octagonal chamber and are surrounded by a marble screen called "jali". This jali has intricate carvings on it making it breathtakingly beautiful. Both the tombs bear calligraphic inscriptions on it.
Another speciality of the TAJ lies in its symmetry. Everything inside the complex is in perfect symmetry, right from the buildings on each side of the TAJ, the main gate to the gardens on each side and also the number of trees in the garden :)
I read somewhere what Shahjan himself had to say about the TAJ. Here it goes:
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My Vote!
Sometimes I am so confused about situations or about what people say, that I can't react. Yesterday was "Votind day" and I got up early in the morning and went to the voting booth because then it gets a bit crowded later in the day. When I came back I was satisfied that I had done something that I was supposed to do and something that can make a difference to our country and its system. I was talking to a friend who said she didnt vote because she didnt care. Is that the right attitude? I dont know. I wanted to shout back at her and tell her that this is the time when you can make a difference and really change things if you want to. But then I thought to myself, will it really make a difference. Has anything really changed for the benefit of the citizens or the common people? I dont know.
Then I met another friend of mine who told me about Atul Kulkarni's interview on TV where he was urging people to cast thier vote. The reason he gave was simple. He said if you look at the larger picture, the country has made progress in 62 years of freedom, which is true. If we compare with the other developing countries, India is much ahead in terms of progress. There are a lot of negatives too, but then try running our small home which has so many problems and we can hardly manage. Manging a huge country like ours is a challenge in itself and inspite of all the problems our democracy is intact for the past 62 years and still going great. Isnt this reason enough to elect leaders we want. Atleast give a fair chance to people who really deserve our votes? Now I agree to this thought process too.
I did cast my vote. But then I am thoroughly confused about these 2 thought processes. Which one is correct. One that says that I will not vote because I dont care and because nothing is going to change... or the one that says that this is my chance to make a small change which in the larger picture is going to affect us again?
I dont know!
Then I met another friend of mine who told me about Atul Kulkarni's interview on TV where he was urging people to cast thier vote. The reason he gave was simple. He said if you look at the larger picture, the country has made progress in 62 years of freedom, which is true. If we compare with the other developing countries, India is much ahead in terms of progress. There are a lot of negatives too, but then try running our small home which has so many problems and we can hardly manage. Manging a huge country like ours is a challenge in itself and inspite of all the problems our democracy is intact for the past 62 years and still going great. Isnt this reason enough to elect leaders we want. Atleast give a fair chance to people who really deserve our votes? Now I agree to this thought process too.
I did cast my vote. But then I am thoroughly confused about these 2 thought processes. Which one is correct. One that says that I will not vote because I dont care and because nothing is going to change... or the one that says that this is my chance to make a small change which in the larger picture is going to affect us again?
I dont know!
