India’s Highest Court demands to restore or close the Taj Mahal
The Supreme Court of India requires the authorities to restore the Taj Mahal mausoleum, the world-famous historical monument. Otherwise, the highest judicial authority of the country threatens to close or even demolish completely the most famous construction of the state. India’s iconic Taj Mahal has turned a sickly color due to ecology. Located in Agra in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the Taj mausoleum, famed across the globe for its white marble facade, has turned shades of yellow, brown, and green by insects and pollution. Construction, increasing pollution, and excrement from insects drawn to the nearby Yamuna River are thought to be among the culprits. Air pollution from nearby factories and automobiles poses a continual threat to the mausoleum’s gleaming white marble facade. In addition, the drying up of the Yamuna River and the shallowing of other reservoirs around, threaten to dislodge the land under the monument, and its subsequent destruction. Experts have already discovered cracks in the structure. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India’s rich history. That is why the India’s Supreme Court gave the government a startling ultimatum: restore the Taj Mahal, or demolish it. Now a special committee led by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur plans to analyze the source of pollution over the next four months. The Supreme Court of India is so concerned about the issue, so is going to check the volume of work performed every day, starting from July 31. The Taj Mahal as the most visited historical and religious site in India receives 8 million visitors annually who come to look at this architectural miracle, which is the nearly 400-year-old palace. It may be assumed that these millions of visitors bring quite a considerable income, which should be enough to cover running costs of the mausoleum. The Taj Mahal was originally built in 17th Century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a funeral memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, he was buried next to her. For Turkmenistan, this religious and historical monument, located in friendly India, is of particular importance. There are reports that Turkmen masters took part in the construction and finishing of this grand structure, which is now striking the travelers with its splendor. In addition, the Turkmens played a major role in the socio-political and cultural life of the Mughal Empire. The most revealing here is the personality of Bayram Khan, the great poet and politician, a Turkmen by nationality. Being an ally of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, Bayram Khan proved himself as a skilful commander-in-chief of the Mughal army, and a powerful diplomat, as well as a regent at the court of the Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akbar, the son of Humayun. He was also guardian, chief mentor, adviser, teacher and the most trusted ally of Akbar. The military victories won by Bayram Khan, in fact, helped to restore Mughal authority in India. Well, of course, the poetic heritage of Bayram Khan is very popular in India, Turkmenistan, and, generally, in the East. In honor of this medieval statesman and poet, there are a number of monuments in Ashgabat.
