Monuments of India

MONUMENTS

Monuments are structures that are explicitly created to commemorate a person or event or that were made in an earlier time and have become important to remember the deceased or past events. But some monuments are so whimsical and precious that they become the shining star of the vast universe of beautiful structures. They are exhibited as the world heritage site.

It is a saga but a very practical truth of today. These precious gems of our country are in danger and if serious and bold steps are not taken to revive them, the country will be like a bride without jewels. Although India is the treasure trove of astonishing temples, monuments and ancient works of art and beauty, I will highlight some famous monuments marked as world heritage sites.

– QUTUB MINAR- in Delhi built by Qutbuddin Aybak in 1193;

– RED FORT- in Delhi built by Shah Jahan in 1639;

– TOMBA DE HUMAYUN – in Delhi built in 1570; these three are among the world heritage sites.

The other famous monuments of Delhi are:

– IRON PILLAR TALL 22 ft-in AD 375-415;

– JAMA MASJID, the largest mosque in India built in 1655;

– PURANA QILA, JANTAR MANTAR and INDIA GATE.

Some other world heritage sites in India are:

– TAJ MAHAL: a tomb in Agra built by Shah Jahan in 1631 for his wife Mumtaz Mahal;

– FATEHPUR SIKRI: a magnificent red sandstone city in Sikri near Agra built by Mughal Emperor Akbar.

– AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES: present in Maharashtra, these caves were built around the 6th century. The caves represent the Buddhist and Jataka tales.

– ELEPHANT CAVES-present in Maharashtra these caves were also built around the 6th century and the 7th century has a 6m high bust of Lord Shiva.

– SONAR QILA-a fort in Rajasthan was built by Rawal Jaiswal in 1156.

– CHARMINAR: it is a square-shaped monument built in Andhra Pradesh in 1591.

– SANCHI STUPAS: they are one of the oldest stupas in Bhopal.

– BHIMBETKA-in Madhya Pradesh are the rock shelters discovered in 1957. They have many different paintings.

– BASILICA DE BOM JESÚS -present in ancient Goa it houses the tomb of Saint Francis Xavier.

– HAMPI-present in Karnataka has many beautiful temples.

– MAMALLAPURAM: is a group of rock-cut monuments built around the 7th and 8th centuries in Tamil Nadu.

Monuments are going bad: There is not one, but many ways in which the valuable and literally non-renewable structures originally created by ancient artists from different dynasties are going to ruin.

Chemicals are released and merged into the air through motor vehicles, coal-fired power plants, nuclear waste disposal, plastic factories, and other heavy industries. Even the spraying of pesticides and chemicals on agricultural fields is damaging air quality. The harmful gases released into the environment are basically carbon, sulfur and nitrogen oxides and chlorofluorocarbon gases. These gases are polluting the air, increasing global warming and even depleting the ozone layer allowing ultraviolet rays to enter the Earth’s atmosphere. These bad elements share hands with the other acts that cause damage to our heritage. To make matters worse, deforestation has crossed the pollution line. All these negative human behaviors together are ruining the environment, basic life and also our very prestigious and precious world heritage sites.

The basic structure of these sites weakens over time. Deep at their base penetrates acids and chemicals that are destroying the skeleton of these whimsical creations leading to the collapse of their anatomy and morphology. Either the paintings or detailed intricate work are falling; or the gloss and lacquer of the stone diminish or become dull.

Chemicals merge with the air and fall on these monuments as acid rain takes away the beauty of these great sites.

The natural shine or colors of the stones are turning black. The clear example is Taj Mahal-It is composed of a white stone called ‘Sangemarmar’. Due to the presence of a dense smog in the atmosphere, the ‘Taj Mahal’ is literally turning into a black beauty.

People scrub on the wall of these beautiful structures. Couples write their names and love messages on the walls, littering and spitting out the chewed beetle and through many other obscene attitudes spoil the crystalline beauty of these monuments.

The scorching heat stops tourists from visiting these places. Intense global warming, deforestation, and over-pollution have raised the temperature to such an extent that people don’t like to see these itchy beauties with sweat all over their bodies.

Foreign tourists who enhance the value of these sites and spread their art and beauty are being exploited and falsely used by some bad Indian hosts. This chills the enthusiasm of foreigners to visit India and ultimately the result is economic degradation. Fewer tourists, less economy and less reactivation of monuments. If these heritages are not relived from time to time, after a few years they will become permanently history.

The advance of the subway acts as a dike. The dike prevents flooding, but here the construction of the metro stations and the construction of the metro route are obstructing the stagnation of these monuments. For example, the upper Qutab Minar is distracted by the passage of the subway.

But it’s never late. Let’s join hands and step forward for the Indian gem revival mission – OUR MONUMENTS:

“The conservation and preservation of these monuments cannot be neglected any more” …. Well written and shared by CBSE ‘Siksha Sadan’ to all CBSE affiliated school principals on January 7, 2010.

The culture ministry showed its courtesy by supporting the subject and lecturing in schools so that students understand and respect their world heritage site.

Books are not the only solution. As it has always been said, “action is worth more than words”, students must travel frequently to these very special monuments. With proper guidance, your knowledge of ancient monuments should be improved. The test should be organized on the basis of world heritage sites and other monuments. The prizes awarded to the winners will encourage students to take advantage of the complete information of their heritage. The reasons for the protection and reactivation of these sites should be explained to the students.

The generation that takes advantage of the fields such as civil construction, paintings, decoration and interior and exterior design should be guided to promote their extensive creative knowledge in the renaissance of monuments.

The first and common style of reviving these world heritage sites and monuments is to convert them fully or partially into a museum, library, tourist spot or hotel. A famous example is ‘Chauki Dhani’ in Jaipur. By establishing museums or libraries in these prehistoric beauties, visitors will gain interesting and elaborate knowledge of these sites. By turning them into hotels or tourist spots, the government will get the external revenue and motive to rehabilitate these old creatives.

VOTE FOR TAJ MAHAL – Very fruitful steps to get this whimsical monument on top. Similarly, voting can help save and revive other monuments. The step can be placed by:

Internet software can be designed to inform viewers and network experts about these heritage sites and solicit their votes. This method will cover the review of people globally.

In addition to the Internet, NGOs can work on this procedure by organizing seminars, meetings and small gatherings. The government in this perspective should support these organizations through financial and legal procedures.

Cinema has always inspired audiences. People literally follow the trend that celebrities start. If the cinema and celebrities act in those films and shows that convey the message of protection and rehabilitation of monuments, the effect will be strong and productive. Speeches and messages delivered by celebrities on radio, television, theater, and on traveling shows reinforce the patriotic sentiment that lies deep in the hearts of the indigenous people.

Due security is required of these eminent works by great artists to prevent their destruction, whether by theft or in any other way. In addition, if someone is found guilty, they must be punished with imprisonment or a fine according to the magnitude of the damage that has been caused to the heritage.

The aforementioned are the few steps that can be taken for the appreciation of the work of the renaissance of the monuments. In addition to this, the national culture must be strengthened not only in dance, music and other performing arts, but also in the rehabilitation and defense of world heritage sites and monuments.

The procession has begun, don’t wait any longer and share hand in hand as part of this divine act.