BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Expectation, they say, reduce the joy of living, and i was high on expectations on this day. And the apprehension of being disappointed was not far behind. My colleague was very effusive in his praise for the Taj, which built up my hopes, and i prayed that they would not be dashed.

We were dropped off at a narrow alley that led upto the south gate entrance of the Taj. The alley was caulked, with tiny shops lining it. Each shopkeeper announcing his merchandise & fare, trying to entice the customers. We marched on purposefully towards our goal. Though we tried to catch a glimpse of Taj, we were unsuccessful. This did dampen my spirits, but then i am made of sterner stuff.

We bought our tickets and were hounded by the guides, each trying to offer his services. Being a haggler, my colleague bargained with gusto and he managed to secure the service of a guide for 80 bucks, the faint smile of victory played on his lips and he gave me a knowledgeable glance. So with a small moral victory we entered. The security guards stopped us and myriad questions like - do u have a mobile.... do u smoke ?? are u carrying cigarettes & matches .. etc were thrown at us. The metal detectors were run over us and we passed the stringent test and bundled out.

And there it was right before our eyes, the symbol of eternal love, a wonder. An alluringly resplendent monument. I was transported into a Quixotic reverie, mesmerised by this translucent beauty. The guide was reeling off his mugged facts and his harsh voice jarred me back to reality. There was the Taj ahead of me, in all its splendour. They say, a Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever and this vision of the Taj shall always be a joy for me. A view so encompassing, so celestial so powerful, you are left wondering about your mortality. This eternal & etheral beauty literally gave me goosebumps. From the gate this monument looks divine and as you walk towards it, along the beautifully manicured & lawned pathway, it grows on you. Its a colossal structure that underlines how shallow our life really is. The taj has the capacity to make you philosophical. You wonder, in amazement, as to how and what justifies such a grandiose structure. Is love so all powerful a feeling ?? i will never know.

The carvings and the inlay work on the Taj is exquisite. Huge carvings made from single blocks of marble leave u dumbstruck. The dexterity of the craftsmen, and their patience are hard to imagine. The motivation .... still harder. The semi-precious stones were ground to fine powder and used for the inlay works. And precious stones were ground to small sizes to make exotic shapes. All this must have been arduous work, which leaves you breathless. The Yamuna flowing nearby adds to the glamour. So serene & peaceful. A vision to behold and worship.

The taj houses the bodies of both Mumtaz & Shahjahan. The burial is visible and a small light illuminates the interior of the Taj. This is done to avoid the yellowing of the Taj a menace which cannot be stopped.

Though the industries were moved to save the Taj, what do we do about the other menaces ?? namely the people. The carvings and writing on the walls have been marred with people scribbling on them. The inlaid stones have been dug out leaving gashes and craters in place. The marble structure left to the mercy of people who do not appreciate its value ... what chance does it have ?? A friend of mine used to say " Life has zero pass percentage, nobody gets out of it alive" ... may be the same holds good for the Taj, unless something is done.

In retrospect i can say, the Taj more than live up to its expectation. A beauty i shall behold & cherish