Latest


Damage control? Taj Mahal finds place of pride in UP govt heritage calendar

  •   Wed, Oct 18 2017 07:50:43 PM

Lucknow, Oct 18 (PTI): The Taj Mahal, which has been in the crosshairs of controversy, has finally found a place of pride in the 2018 calendar brought out by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The 17th century architectural marvel is included in the month of July in the calendar brought out by the state information department.

The Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur has also found a place in the calendar. The Gorakhnath Mutt is represented by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Apart from carrying images of important heritage and tourist spots of the state, the calendar mentions the popular BJP slogan of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas – UP government ka satat prayas'. The pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief minister also feature in the calendar prominently.

The world famous monument has recently been in the crosshairs of controversy with BJP MLA Sangeet Som questioning the monument's place in India's heritage, stressing that history would be re-written to erase Mughal emperors from it.

Som's comments came soon after the Yogi Adityanath government reportedly omitted the Taj Mahal from an official tourism booklet.

"Many people are pained to see that the Taj Mahal was removed from the list of places (tourist destinations). What type of history?" Som recently posed in a statement.

The BJP had distanced itself from the comment saying it was Som's personal view and the party had nothing to do with it.

Following media reports, the state government had issued a press release stating, "Tourism projects worth Rs 370 crore are proposed, under which schemes worth Rs 156 crore for development of parks and various facilities are meant for the Taj Mahal and its surrounding areas in Agra."

The chief minister was also prompt in clearing the air by stating, "It is immaterial as to who and how Taj Mahal was built...it was made by the saputs (sons) of Bharat Mata through their khoon and pasina...it is famous the world over for its architecture...is a historical monument and its protection and further development for tourism is the responsibility of the government."

He also said that he will visit the historical monument and the Taj city of Agra on October 26 to review the tourism schemes there.

Prayagraj Triveni Sangam (Allahabad), Ram ki Paudi (Ayodhya), Barsane ki Holi (Mathura), Gurudwara Nanakmattha Saheb (Pilibhit), Devgarh Jain temple (Lalitpur), Sarnath Stupa (Varanasi), Rani Jhansi ka Kila (Jhansi), Sri Krishna Janmsthan temple (Mathura), Vindhyachal trikon darshan (Mirzapur) and Kanshi Vishwanath temple (Varanasi) also find a place in the calendar.
  

Top Stories

Nitte University launches 2 international dual degree programmes in BTech CSE

  •   23 hours ago    1

Comment on this article

  • mas, Kundapur/DXb

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Taj mahal built by Mughals, Trains track , parliment,lal qilah , court, universities etc.. built by British,,,Demolish all let see what India can give to it's citizens built by its own, Only fake construction which fall with in 10 to 15 years ....Vikaas really has gone mad..

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    It is not just its ethereal beauty that makes this architectural marvel, carved out of sheer white marble, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; the extraordinary history of Emperor Shah Jahan’s love and devotion for his beloved Mumtaz that makes the Taj Taj — the eternal symbol of love.
    THE WOUND OF THE MINDLESS DESTRUCTION OF THE BABRI MASJID IN AYODHYA IS STILL FRESH AND THE SAME FORCES HAVE NOW TURNED THEIR HATE-FILLED RAGE TOWARDS THE ULTIMATE EPITOME OF LOVE.
    However, given the hate and hostility that this popular monument to love has lately been attracting from the Hindutva, I am not sure how long the Taj would maintain its celebrated status.
    As is the nature of fascism, Hindutva’s project to paint India saffron, including its past, has now been taken to absurd extremes with the Uttar Pradesh government headed by Yogi Adityanath dropping the Taj from its tourism campaign. The 32-page booklet titled ‘Uttar Pradesh Tourism – Its High Potential’ issued by the state government has omitted its most famous monument!
    Anyone crazy enough to even toy with such loony ideas would be locked away in a mental asylum. In India, however, they have been chosen to rule and run amok as they please.
    In any other country, these lunatics would be locked away in prison for targeting the nation’s prized monuments. In India, however, they are free to parade their crazed, hate-filled figments of imagination as ‘nationalism’!
    FROM TARGETING RARE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND REWRITING HISTORY BOOKS TO LYNCHING PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF FOOD AND FAITH, FASCISM HAS TAKEN TOTAL CONTROL OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST DEMOCRACY AND IS DISMANTLING IT, SYSTEMATICALLY AND DELIBERATELY.
    This is not the idea of India that they had fought for. Is this why they faced the full wrath of the British imperialism and spent their best years in prisons? Is this why Gandhi sacrificed his life so that those who detested him, colluded with the British, fought his politics of inclusion and eventually killed him.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • leslie, udupi

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Winning is something...
    Managing is something else...
    Not a single thing BJP managed....
    Either at center or in Laknow...

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • AMAR NATHAL, MANGALORE

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    If voters say no to Yogi's plans he will keep making U-Turn everyday. What he is interested in is power not welfare of the ordinary people. Only communal flavour can keep him in his seat.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Roman Emperor Nero killed his wife; then burned a year’s worth of cinnamon to show remorse.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sampath, India

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Mughals are confused now...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    The Taj today faces a grave new challenge from an unlikely quarter – Yogi Adityanath. The Hindu hardliner is one of the country’s most powerful politicians and chief minister of Uttar Pradesh province where the Taj is located. The BJP of PM Modi and Adityanath regard Mughal kings like Shah Jahan, who built the monument, as Muslim “invaders” who “enslaved” Hindus.

    Adityanath’s blunt remarks that the Taj Mahal “doesn’t reflect India’s culture or heritage” led to an uproar but he is unfazed. In his first budget for Uttar Pradesh, he generously allocated funds for the development of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura and Chitrakoot which have religious significance for Hindus. But he bypassed Agra, known the world over for the Taj.

    Many of us does not know that the court was hearing an application which has sought its nod to cut around 450 trees around 'Taj Mahal' in an around 80 km stretch on which the additional railway track would be laid between Mathura and Delhi by the CM Yogi's UP government.

    "Do you want to destroy" the world famous Taj Mahal, the Supreme Court asked the government.

    The scathing remarks by the apex court came during the hearing of an application seeking its nod to cut over 400 trees to lay down an additional railway track between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

    "This (Taj Mahal) is a world famous monument and you (government) want to destroy it? Have you seen the recent pictures of Taj? Go to the internet and have a look at it," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.

    "If you want, then file an affidavit or application and say that the Union of India wants to destroy the Taj," the bench said.
    Instead of emphasising the Hindu origins of Muslim monuments and staking a claim over them, the new RSS strategy is to belittle their importance and denounce them so as to denigrate Muslims by suspecting their ‘Indian-ness’.
    The BJP's attack on the 'Taj Mahal' is a part of wider project.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jeevan, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Cow shed should be the first priority. Cow gives milk. Taj gives nothing.

    Yogiji built cow shed in 2017. Should be in all history books

    DisAgree [12] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Mr.Jeevan, Mangalore
    Sir, Cow also gives 'dung', on which dung beetles feed just like BJP's IT cell and its social media cottage industry.
    CM Yogi built 'cowshed', when he can't even supply study oxygen to children's ward in his own constituency?
    Gentlemen, please do some fact check before posting any comment.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lobo, Mangaluru

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Jeevan, Mangalore

    "Yogiji built cow shed in 2017. Should be in all history books"

    what rubbish you are talking Jeevan? History books are not written with cow or cow dung. Its about prominent people and events. Looks like you have not read history books.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Actually the BJP is confused now what to do for the coming elections That's why people say "Vikas pagal hogya hai"

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K.C., Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    Daal nahi galegi, Daal nahi galegi.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    U-Turn ...

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • JJ, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 18 2017

    All Rounder...........!!

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Damage control? Taj Mahal finds place of pride in UP govt heritage calendar



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like