Documente Academic
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Documente Cultură
on Our Neglected
Monuments of India
Article shared by Vishal
Monuments are sites of great historical, religious or
archaeological importance. They can be huge forts, buildings,
amphitheaters, ruins, statues or mausoleums. The common thing
between them is that they have great architectural beauty or
historical value and attract millions of visitors every year. India is a
vast country. Originally it was the home of the Aryans and the
Hindus.
During the course of time several foreign communities came to
India either as invaders, traders or travellers. They bought with
them their ideas, designs and created some new monuments.
Now we have thousands of big and small monuments scattered
across the length and breadth of the country. The major ones
among them are: Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, India Gate,
Gateway of India, Lai Qila, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Jantar
Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Sanchi Stupa, Fatehpur Sikri, Gol Gumbaz,
Sun Temple, Saint Francis Cathedral and many others.
Millions of visitors from India and all over the world come to see
these monuments every year. The famous Taj Mahal has been
included in the list of new Seven Wonders of the World which is a
matter of great pride for all of us. Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar have
already been declared the World Heritage Sites by the UN. Many
others are favourites of tourists because of their beauty and
splendour.
All the monuments in India are among the best in the world for
their archaeological value, design and historical significance but it
is a disturbing fact that we have not looked after these
monuments properly. The majority of them are in a bad shape.
Even the most famous of them has been neglected. When, during
the British rule, some precious stones and lapis lazuli were
chiselled out of the walls of the Taj Mahal by some officials, it was
understandable because the Britishers could not have much
attachment with our monuments.
Moreover, the time was such that it could not be stopped by the
Indians. But now when everything is in our own hands, why are
we neglecting the Taj? The Taj Committee has time and again
expressed apprehensions that the smoke fiom the nearby
factories is damaging the white marble as wei1 as stones of which
the Taj is principally made. There are evidences of spots at some
places in walls and the floor. But neither the state government nor
the central government has paid any attention. The factories and
industries abound around the Taj and give out smoke day and
night.
The Taj is situated on the banks of river Yamuna at Agra. The river
is so polluted that it looks more like a drain. People keep on
throwing garbage in it. The industrial effluents and sewerage
water flows into the river. Dirty waters of the river do not add to
the beauty of the Taj, but reduce its charm. The authorities have
not paid any attention to desalt and clean the river despite tall
claims and announcements of plans.
New Delhi, the capital of India is an ancient and historical city. It
has a large number of world famous monuments like Lai Qila,
Jama Masjid, India Gate, Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar, Jantar
Mantar, Iron Pillar, Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, the Old
Fort and many other buildings built during the regime of Muslim
rulers. Most of these monuments are famous for exquisite Muslim
architecture. However, their condition is deteriorating fast because
of gross neglect. In Lai Qila the stones have come out at several
places. The inner walls of some parts like diwan-e-aam, diwan-ekhas need repair. General cleanliness in and around Lai Qila is
missing. Many parts of this monument are being used as offices
instead of preserving them on heritage.
The condition of nearby Jama Masjid is also similar. The biggest
mosque in Asia has been surrounded by congested shops and