what I really wanted to write about the Taj
(Here's what the original ending of the india blog on the Taj. I decided not to post it on the other site, since I doubt many of my work colleagues were appreciate the commentary.)
I'm getting a bit tired of typing now (and I do actually have some work to do), but before I go just a thought on the Taj. Yes, it's a beautiful building with goegrous inlaid marble and all sorts of the other interesting features, but another major aspect of it is that it is a "monument to love" and "romantic," etc. etc. The guide actually asked me how my partner felt about me going to such a "romantic" place by myself. Umm...yeah...it's a building. It took millions of Rupees to build, money that could have been spent on things like roads and schools. And it was built for a dead woman, who couldn't exactly appreciate the gesture made by her husband.
Yes, I'm being a bit of cynic here. I do appreciate the architecture and the artwork that is present at all of the tombs, monuments and temples we have visited over the past few days. But I wish more people would remember the human and social cost of building them.
posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 10:17 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
It's not like this dude was going to spend the money on the masses if not on his dead lady love. So now the Taj Mahal brings tourists and $$$ to India which helps the economy. No?
Well, actually that's part of the problem. Yes, the tourism generated by the Taj does help the economy, but in 1996 they closed all industry in and around Agra (the city where the Taj is located) because the pollution was damaging the Taj. Now I'm all for limiting pollution, but now there are no jobs except for in tourism and there aren't enough jobs there. Many of the younger generation are angry about this because they can't find employment in Agra and are forced to leave.
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