Such a move will only create a greater religious divide in India
HYDERABAD: The raging controversy over Mughal architectural heritage, most notably the Taj Mahal, in India is quite disappointing. The monument built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan has served as a popular tourist spot in Agra for centuries. It was also included in the list of modern seven wonders of the world a few years ago. As a Unesco World Heritage Site Taja Mahal is visited by more than 600,000 tourists, mostly from abroad, every year, contributing significantly to the economy. However, recently the Taj Mahal was dropped from the state list of Uttar Pradesh’s historical sites.
Although the list has been said to be limited for only foreign delegations visiting the state, it has caused a huge uproar considering that in June UP Chief Minister Adityanath said that “the Ramayana and the Gita represent Indian culture and not the Taj Mahal.” Hence, it doesn’t seem implausible that the list was intentionally made and the Taj Mahal may in fact in future be excluded from the national list of historical sites. However, such a move will only create a greater religious divide in India. The sane voices of India, particularly at the helm of politics, should collectively raise their voices against this to prevent pushing the world’s largest democracy towards its doom.
Raina Waqas
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2017.
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