By Syed Arif Hussaini

August 01 , 2008

Another Attempt Foiled to Set up Temple in Taj Mahal

           
A group of Hindu fanatics made another attempt last week to storm Taj Mahal and set up a temple on the premises in pursuance of the myth that the architectural marvel, one of the wonders of the world, was not built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jehan, but that it was a Shiva temple built by a local Hindu ruler and Shah Jehan had simply usurped it to turn it into a Mausoleum for his queen, Mumtaz Mahal.
The security personnel easily foiled the attempt; for, it had no popular backing, it was no mass movement. It made little sense to even the credulous. Credit must be given to quick and timely action by the authorities who avoided a repeat of the Gujrat communal riots of Feb-November, 2002 in which hundreds of persons lost their lives and dozens of mosques and other sacred places were destroyed. Connivance of Gujrat Chief Minister, Narindra Modi, is often mentioned.
The far-fetched mythology about the origin of Taj Mahal was weaved by Purshuttam Nagi Oak (March 1917-December 2007) an Indore-born extremist masquerading as a research scholar on the monument. In his book “Taj Mahal: The True Story”, he makes the preposterous claim that the mausoleum had originally been a Hindu temple built by a local ruler.
Oak has also claimed that the shrine in Mecca had a Vedic past like the historic buildings in Vatican.
He alleges that the eyewitness accounts of Taj Mahal’s construction as well as the documents recording Shah Jehan’s instructions at various phases of the work, and the voluminous financial records were elaborate frauds calculated to hide its Hindu origin. Indian authorities’ refusal to allow him unfettered access to probe into the tombs and chambers was called by him a conspiracy against Hinduism.
In 2000 India’s Supreme Court dismissed his petition to declare the architectural marvel a Hindu monument. The court reprimanded him for bringing the action and ridiculed him for having “a bee in his bonnet”. Five years later, a similar petition was made by a Hindu preacher and social worker,
Amar Nath Mishra, to the Allahabad High Court claiming that the mausoleum was built by a Hindu King, Parmar Dev, in 1196. The court dismissed the petition with the contempt it deserved.
The buffoonery involving the Taj crossed all limits of logic when early in 2002, a rumor was set afloat that Lashker-e-Taiba, a Kashmiri militant outfit that was blamed for the attack a few days earlier on the Indian Parliament had e-mailed to the provincial authorities a threat to blow up Taj Mahal  in retaliation for any action against the suspected terrorists.  A day later, a follow up story circulated through AFP said that the “monument to love could have its fabled marbled dome and minarets covered with dark cloth as a protection against possible bombing raids”.
The entire story, from the e-mail threat to the projected veiling of the beauty in marble, appeared to be an amateurish attempt at psychological warfare.  No wonder it turned out to be a damp squib.
Three years back when I visited the mausoleum, I was highly impressed by the official commitment to the maintenance and protection of the world wonder. All factories emitting smoke had been removed from the vicinity of the 360-year old marvel of architectural beauty. Only electric cars and rickshaws were allowed to ply on the roads to make sure that their emissions do not tarnish the marble. The concerned authorities deserve much admiration for the meticulous care.
The Taj is undoubtedly the finest architectural monument built in the subcontinent by the Mughal rulers during their 331-year dynasty. The forts, mosques, gardens and mausoleums bear testimony to their building genius.
In 1983 the Taj became a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of world’s heritage”. It has since been added to the list of the wonders of the world. Dedicated to his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to his thirteenth child, it was aptly described by Rabindranath Tagore as “one tear drop upon the cheek of time”. It took 16 years for some 20,000 workers to complete the monument.
It attracts 200,000 to 400,000 visitors, both local and foreign, each year. Foreign tourists are charged entry fee at a much higher rate than the local visitors. It is a thus a great source of income for the Indian tourist industry. 
How can anyone think of damaging such a masterpiece and an invaluable national asset?   Poverty and ignorance spawn illogicality and feed superstition. There is thus no dearth of crazies on both sides of the border.  Their rational instincts appear to be on an infinite vacation. 
Geo TV’s Indian correspondent attributed to elements of Shiv Sena the latest episode to set up a temple in Taj Mahal.  The BJP’s commitment to impart a saffron tinge to Indian society, the basic concept behind Hindutva, setups such as Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal –to mention just a couple- have found little favor with the vast majority of the country’s population who seek education and knowledge, socio-economic progress and independence, and a life free of the fetters of the caste system and narrow religious beliefs.  During the three visits I made over the past five years, I gained the impression that a quiet revolution was taking shape; the old order was changing, yielding place to a new and much healthier one.  
This shift augurs well for Indo-Pakistan relations too, although the fifth round of talks between the senior officials of the two countries held in July failed to record substantial progress. The talks frozen in the murky memories of the past will have to yield to a genuine commitment to cooperation for a better future for the generations to come. The society at large should treat with disdain the fanatics who want to ignite religious frenzy by launching asinine bids like setting up a temple in Taj Mahal.
The situation on the Pakistan side of the border is perhaps even worse. The society was thrusting forward, despite being on a roller coaster ride, till it got embroiled into the decade-long Afghan war. It was projected as a conflict between Islam and a godless ideology. Once the Soviet Union was pushed back and it collapsed soon after, the zealots who had been fondly called Mujahedeen and freedom-fighters, turned into Al Qaeda terrorists and Taliban fanatics ready to die as suicide bombers at the behest of their foggy-minded, obscurantist masters in the caves of Afghanistan’s Tora Bora or the rugged terrain of the tribal belt of Pakistan’s frontier region. They constitute the biggest challenge today for both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The writ of the Afghan President is so constrained that he is called the mayor of Kabul. While Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan reigns over the country, real power is in the hands of Asif Ali Zardari who is not even a member of the parliament. With weak leaders at the helm of affairs in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the militant Taliban are consolidating their hold. Gilani government has decided to negotiate peace deals with their leaders. Such deals do not buttress the inherent weakness; they invite further demands and aggression. You cannot debate with a fanatic who has a bee in his bonnet. He had no compunction in demolishing the Buddha statutes of Bamian.  He has, therefore, to be dispensed with in the same way as the Indian authorities dealt with the Hindu fanatics in the recent Taj Mahal episode or like the judgment handed down to the Indian version of Taliban  --Purshutam Nagi Oak.

 

 

 

PREVIOUSLY

Desire and the Culture of Instant Gratification
March 23 - Memories & Nostalgia
Deeper Malaise of Pakistan Polity
BJP’s Debacle in the Battle for Ballots
Feudalism’s Aversion to Education
Forgetfulness -a Prank of Old Age or of Hyperfocus
The Taliban and Beyond
Meetings of World Economic Forum and Its Counterweight
BJP Fails Again to Frame Pakistan
Indo-Chinese Relations in Perspective
Taj Mahal and Indo-Pakistan Standoff
Grandma, Grandpa
'The Clash of Civilizations' : A Questionable Thesis
In the Gadgeteer's Dreamland
Emergence of MMA on Pak Political Landscape
Chechnya and Moscow's Hostage Crisis
Turkish Elections in Historical Perspective
Iraq's Oil Wealth
America: A Nation on Wheels
"Jinnah & Pakistan" - A Worthwhile Book
Afghanistan Merits More Attention

The Siren Song of Sale and Savings

In Memory of Dr. Hamidullah

Tackling Murphy at the Airport

Musings of a Superannuated Man

US Economy: Will Bush's Plan Work

Tempo of Life in AmericaThe Genius behind the MouseThe Media Mogul Who Manipulated Men and EventsHearst and Disney: A Comparative StudyNothing but the TruthWar on Iraq Imminent and InevitableMahathir's Interesting ViewsPortents of a New World OrderMarch 23 - Memories & NostalgiaRachel Corrie & the Spotted OwlLost in CyberspaceThe American Nice GuyismConnecticut - A Nursery of MenOn a Visit to Canada after Half of CenturySome Legal Aspects of the Iraq WarBureaucratic AnticsRhode Island: An Oxymoron, a ParadoxThe Mystique of CaliforniaComic Operas in Islamabad & in TexasKhyber Knights: A Fascinating BookG-8 Summit Skirts Touchy IssuesIn Memory of a Versatile GeniusHillary Clinton's Cleverly Crafted BookChitranwala Katora and ChutkiyanThe Yak Shows : The Trash TalksThe Giants of Sequoia National ParkReflections on Pakistan's Independence DayAziz Kay 'Sifarati Maarkay And Mujtaba Kay 'Safarnamay'California's Political CircusLali Chaudhri's Provocative Short StoriesSeptember: A Witness to WarsAmerica in the Quagmire of IraqCollapse of Another WTO SummitA B C D: American-Born-Clear-Headed DesisThe Pangs of WaitingChechnya: A Ray of Hope for PeaceAmerican Job Exodus to ChinaIslamabad : Its Beauty & OdditiesWelcome Proposals to Break Indo-Pak LogjamBenazir's Case and the Corruption ScenarioPredicament of Pakistan's PolityWhen Memory Starts FalteringTerror in Turkey Unrelated to Nation's Cultural ConflictThe Siren Song of Sale and Savings Wrinkles in US-China RelationsWrinkles in US-China RelationsSaddam Crawls out of a Hole to IgnominySaddam Crawls out of a Hole to IgnominyWhen Memory Starts FalteringA Day in the Company of Mujtaba HussainHyderabad Presents a Panorama of Progress and ChangeConflict over New World Economic OrderPakistan's Nuclear ScandalUrdu in Hyderabad DeccanA Good Book on a Great ManGay Marriages in Vivacious San FranciscoThe Passion of the Christ - A Well-Sculpted but Fuss-Causing FilmA Treat of Mujtaba's Wit and HumorPredicament of Pakistan's PolityThe Murder of Sheikh Yassin: Israel's Hidden AgendaArmy Action in Pakistan's Tribal BeltWould the NSC Buttress or Besiege Democracy?Desire and the Culture of Instant GratificationSwiss Court and the Benazir-Zardari Plunder SagaPakistan and the International Economic ForumsWhy Do US Follies Keep Piling up in Iraq?The Tamasha at Lahore AirportIndian Elections and Subsequent DevelopmentsBush Flaunts His Faulty Policies on IraqPost Civil War America and Post-Independence PakistanBureaucratic AnticsTackling Murphy at the AirportAsma's Fascinating Book on IslamAPPNA Qissa - 25 Years of Activities of Pak-American DoctorsBureacratic AnticsNightmare in SudanIn Pursuit of TerroristsWhy Turkey's Entry into European Union Is Blocked?Forgetfulness - A Prank of Old Age or of HyperfocusKremlin's Inept Tackling of Chechen ExtremistsWho Should Get My Vote In November Election?Bush vs. Annan on Legal Status of Iraq WarRethinking the National Security of PakistanThe Brief Message

Desire and the Culture of Instant Gratification Is Iran the Next Target?

Dollar vs. Euro -A Question of Hegemony

Zardari’s Release Indicative of Reconciliation?The Siren Song of Sale and SavingsChristmastime – A Festive OccasionPak-China Ties Keep Growing FirmlyAmerican Shopping MallsTsunami - an Asian Disaster Dr. Cohen’s Thought-Provoking Work on PakistanAlice in the FreelandBalochistan: Crisis & Conflict Iran the Next Target, but The Common Man

Chechnya: Chaos to Continue in the CaucasusGlobal Warming and Emulators of the OstrichA Treat of Mujtaba’s Wit and Humor Reflections on the Idea of Pakistan‘Engaging India’ - A Valuable Book by Strobe Talbott
Memories & Nostalgia
American Nice GuyismBalochistan at the Verge of Revolutionary Changes?India as Seen by Early Muslim Chroniclers India, China Leading a Resurgent AsiaThe Pain at the Petrol Pump Mujtaba Husain - a Humorist Par Excellence Musings of a Superannuated Man in AmericaThe Pangs of WaitingChaos and Killings in Uzbekistan Prospects of the Pain at the Petrol Pump
French Voters Reject Proposed EU Constitution
Why Turkey’s Entry into European Union Is Being BlockedWhat Ails Thee, My Native Land?The Deeper Malaise of Pakistan’s PolityResistance to Change in the System Feudalism’s Aversion to EducationRhode Island: An Oxymoron, a ParadoxThe Spotted Owl Wins against Bush AdministrationSufi Sage of Philadelphia and His Devotee from TorontoTo Ease the Pain at the Petrol PumpPat Robertson - a Loose Canon?Monkey Menace in New DelhiSeptember - A Witness to WarsThe Trouble with Islam Today Two Revealing Books on AfghanistanTo Lighten the Tedium of Air Travel
Islamabad as I Remember It
China’s White Paper Upholds Its “Democratic Dictatorship”The Brief MessageHalloween: The Fun-Filled FantasyPractical Joking: The Sport of Creeps?Senate Rebuffs Bush on War in IraqBush’s Unproductive Visit to ChinaGlobal Warming or Terrorism: Which Is a Bigger Threat?A High Achiever Shows the WaySyriana - An Expose of Intrigues of Oil CompaniesHow Washington Sold Its Soul for Saudi CrudeAlice in the FreelandAmerican EnglishThe Battle of the BulgeLost in CyberspaceHamas Vote Victory Invites Wrath of the WestNo Relief in Sight from Pain at the Petrol PumpPolitics of the Cartoons’ ControversyFollies & Fantasies of the FreaksMujtaba’s New Book and Urdu Magazine ‘Al Aqreba’Bush’s South Asian VisitFeudalism’s Aversion to Education

Mergers and Cartels Produce Unprecedented Oil Profits?

V for Vendetta – A Controversial Political Thriller A Treat of Mujtaba’s Wit and Humor Media Buzz on Invasion of IranChina’s Charm OffensiveTo Pump or Not to Pump, That Is Not the QuestionUndocumented Immigrants, No Social PariahsBush’s Subtle Approach to Immigration Issue The Da Vinci Code – A Mega Money Minter Randolph Hearst: The Media Mogul Hearst and Disney: A Comparative Study Pakistan’s Political Scenario Portends Violence but No Basic ChangeChatty Columns of a Remarkable Young WomanMountbatten Messed up Partition of IndiaChechnya after Blast Kills Its Rebel LeaderBombay Blasts and Some Reflections on TerrorismA Good Addition to Urdu Literature Lieberman’s Defeat in Democratic Primary Asifa Nishat - a Deep Thinking Urdu PoetWar In Iraq: The Crucial Issue in Midterm ElectionsBalochistan: Shape of Things to Come Khalid Khaja - an Eminent Urdu Poet, Writer & SpeakerSeptember - a Witness to Wars Military Coup in Thailand Triggers ReminiscencesMusharraf Pulls No Punches in His MemoirHasan Chishti - a Man of Letters, a Purveyor of HappinessHalloween: The Fun-Filled Fantasy Practical Joking: The Sport of Creeps? To Lighten the Tedium of Air Travel Bajaur: Action against Religious Seminary Raises QuestionsRumsfeld’s Exit Marks the Beginning of Shift of Course in IraqBorat: A Comedy of Discomfort and of Even OutrageRuler Derby in PakistanNO God But GOD - A Rational Account of Islam & A Call For ReformationTo Ease the Pain at the Petrol Pump Christmastime - a Festive OccasionJimmy Carter Exposes Oppression & Apartheid by Israel

India & China Lead Resurgent AsiaProspects of Pain at the Petrol PumpA Highly Informative and Thought-Provoking BookSomalia: Ethiopia Rides the TigerPakistan: The Shifting Political ScenarioMujtaba Hussain - A Purveyor of HappinessSurge in Suicide Blasts in PakistanSpecter of War Haunting IranFrenzied Fanatic Fells Female MinisterMusharraf Overtly Pressured and Covertly Remonstrated Suspension of Pak Chief Justice Triggers ControversyMarch 23: Memories & NostalgiaThe Ruler Derby in PakistanProspects of the Pain at Petrol PumpAmerican Islam: An Investigative StudyTurmoil in the Tribal Belt of Pakistan?A Scholar’s Gripping Account of Hyderabadi DiasporaOn Being a Senior CitizenTurkey: In the Cleft of a Cultural ConflictLost in CyberspaceAkbar Ahmad’s Book on Current Challenges to Muslim SocietiesAsma’s Fascinating Book on IslamIrshad Manji Points out the Trouble with Islam Today A Scholar’s Plea for the Resumption of IjtehadThe Mystique of CaliforniaKnighthood for Salman RushdieUpheaval in Palestine: National Objective in Ruins“Jinnah & Pakistan” – A Worthwhile BookLal Masjid and Beyond

Musings of a Superannuated Man
Significance of General Elections in Turkey Musharraf-Benazir Tango to the Tune Called by the USReflections on Independence DayNostalgia for the HomelandPakistan: The Corruption Scenario Changing Political Dynamic in PakistanPakistan: Current Political Crisis and the Common ManThe Battle of the BulgeOn Being a Senior CitizenWhen Memory Starts Faltering (1)The Musharraf-Benazir Deal: Its Nature & FutureHalloween: A Fun-Filled Fantasy Is Pakistan the Most Dangerous Nation?Lost in CyberspaceSurge of Violence in PakistanWhat Ails Thee, My Native Land?

Washington’s Fear Mongers Focus on Pakistan’s Nukes

Akbar Ahmad’s Book on Current Challenges to Muslim Societies
The Startling US Intelligence Report on Iran’s Nuclear Plan
Christmastime: A Festive Occasion
Desire and the Culture of Instant Gratification
Bhutto’s Murder Plunges Pakistan Deep into Turmoil
Would Musharraf Be Able to Weather the Storm?
Feudalism’s Aversion to Education
‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ – A Film Based on a Best-Seller Book
The Kite Runner: An Absorbing Book, a Wonderful Film
Hillary Clinton - First Woman to Bid for the White House
Whither Pakistan?
Who Should Get My Vote?
Pakistan: The Emerging Political Scenario
More Pain at the Petrol Pump
On Being a Senior Citizen
Sufi Sage of Philadelphia and His Devotee from Toronto
‘The Pakistani Bride’ – A Gripping Novel by Bapsi Sidhwa
New Pak Premier Faces Daunting Tasks
The Mystique of California
Mark Twain: America’s Greatest Humorist
Jimmy Carter Exposes Oppression & Apartheid
‘The Trial of Dara Shikoh’ - A Thought-Provoking Play
No Reprieve from the Pain at the Gas Station
‘The Culture of Tolerance’ - A Bold, Provocative and Discordant Book
Pakistan’s Politicians Pursue Personal Ends
Randolph Hearst: The Media Mogul
Hearst and Disney: A Comparative Study
Fishing: Facts & Fantasies, Fibs & Frolics
Mujtaba Hussain: A Purveyor of Happiness
Pakistan’s Fledgling Government Fumbles, Falters and Flounders
Mujtaba Hussain  - a Humorist Par Excellence
A Mockery of Democracy
The Kite Runner - An Absorbing Book, A Wonderful Film


Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
© 2004 pakistanlink.com . All Rights Reserved.