TAJ MAHAL IS AMONG 7 WONDERS OF WORLD!

It all began 30 years ago. In 1989 a self-appointed ‘historian’, wrote a book, “Taj Mahal: The True Story”. According to Oak, the author the “Taj Mahal” was actually a temple of Shivji and a palace named Tejo Mahal. No concrete historical evidence was produced. Nothing sticks like a falsehood. It took a little time to dismiss the Oak fiction, but not before Oak approached the Supreme Court to declare that the Taj Mahal was built by a Hindu King. The Supreme Court rejected his petition.

A few days back, Rajneesh Singh of the BJP filed a plea in the Lucknow branch of the Allahabad High Court, asking it to direct the Archaeological Survey to probe 22 closed rooms in the Taj Mahal to ascertain the existence of idols of Hindu deities there.

The court rejected Rajneesh Singh’s plea, giving him a dressing down and asked him not to make a ‘mockery’ of the PIL system. He was told to do research on the topic. Justices DK Upadhayay and Subhas Vidyarthi, said to Rajneeshji, “Tomorrow you will come to ask us to go to the chambers of honourable judges…..Go and research. Do a MA, do Ph.D. Then choose such a topic and if any institute disallows you to research on such a topic, then come to us. Please enrol yourself in M.A and if any university denies you research on such a topic then come to us.”

The petitioner’s lawyer asked the court to allow him to withdraw the petition and file a new one. This the judges did not accept. The court “pulled up” Rajneesh Singh for filing the PIL in a “casual” manner. It further said the petitioner should point out which legal or constitutional rule had been infringed.

There is more to this fairy tale. A BJP, Member of Parliament, Diya Kumari from Jaipur supported Rajneesh Singh. She claims that the land on which the Taj Mahal was built belonged to her forefathers. Apparently, the relevant documents are in the “Pothikhana” in one of the Jaipur palaces. Diya Kumari should ask for these to be made public. This is not a private matter.

The Taj Mahal is among the 7 wonders of the World. It is visited by people from all parts of the globe. Every detail about its construction is documented-where did the marble come from, and the craftsmen. Yes, it did take a very long time to build. It was never a temple.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL