1301 Words Essay

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

other buildings. Rickshaws, buses, cars and other vehicles keep

standing around it, making the access and reach narrow and
difficult. Qutub Minar has been the most sufferer of neglect. The
nearby area has not been developed at all. As a result few tourists
are attracted towards this historical monument. Some time ago its
uppermost story fell down but no attempt was ever made to
rebuild it. Many stairs are broken.
People engrave their names or other words on its outside and
inside walls. Nobody stops them. In most of the other monuments,
the stones or bricks have come out. They have either not been
repaired at all, or if they have been repaired, the difference of
material and design is clearly visible. It becomes obvious that they
have been repaired by ordinary masons not by experts and
designers. Beggars at the gates of monuments annoy the visitors.
The food available at shops around these sites is dirty and
contaminated.
The arrangement of drinking water is absent while sanitation
facilities are not available at all if this is the state of affairs who will
come to visit them. Delhis Jantar Mantar despite being in the
central part of the city, i.e. at the Parliament Street is an example
of gross neglect. It does not look like a monument at all. The
observatories and other structures within it are withering fast. No
expert tends to them; no guide is available to tell about its history.

People keep on sleeping, eating, spitting and littering within the

premises.
Most of the monuments in the central part of India, i.e. in
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, viz. Bandhavgarh are in ruins.
They are isolated and secluded apart from being grossly
neglected. Very few people dare to visit these ruins which once
were forts. The Ajanta and Ellora caves attract a large number of
visitors but there is no arrangement to save them and the statues
inside from general wear and tear. The facilities are as old as they
were decades ago. The condition of transportation, restaurants
and hotels nearby has improved but very little.
There is no protection from rain, hot sun and other weathering
agents. The monuments of South India also suffer from neglect.
The old temples and churches are becoming weak and dull due to
weathering and the effect of pollution.
Taking care of the monuments is an important duty that devolves
on the respective state government as well as the central
government. It needs funds to engage people who can look after
it, ensure that the miscreants do not harm it, as also to get the
damaged portion repaired from expert designers and engineers.
The government must provide adequate amount of funds for each
monument. Wherever possible the amount of entry fee should be

increased-not to earn revenue but to spend the collection on the

upkeep of the monument.
The committees formed to look after the monuments must be
made answerable if some damage is caused. Pollution is a big
issue. It cannot be checked until people at large are made aware
of the sustainable practices and their importance. The industries
and factories must be shifted away from site of the monuments to
reduce the effect of smoke. There should be a proper system of
disposal of garbage, and proper drainage system for waste water
as well as industrial effluents. Anybody damaging the structures
or walls of the monuments must be punished.
The committees of experts should be formed to study the present
condition of each monument and the steps need to be taken to
protect them should be initiated. Proper care of the monuments
enhances their life. The infrastructure around the monuments
must be adequate so that the visitors find it convenient to visit
them and stay there for at least some hours.
The monuments represent our tradition, history, art and design.
They are related to historical events. They are also the symbols of
our architectural skills. The authorities should pay proper attention
and save them from ruining away.