From: Roland Francis <[email protected]>
Here is a prime example of how badly the Taj Mahal, a tourist money- spinner and one of the World?s Wonders is maintained, driving the Indian Supreme Court to rant in frustration ?Preserve it or raze it.? Much of the current neglect is the BJP loathing for Mughal legacy. They simply in ignorance equate Mughal with Muslim, looking at every situation with communally tinted glasses. Sorry boys, you cannot erase a part of Indian history at your will. ------ GL responds: If the govt spends money on restoring these historical monuments, the same folks (Goans included) would loath the govt in TOI editorials on spending money on unnecessary projects. And perhaps the govt should spend the money on better and more utilitarian projects, for the good of the people, like fixing their local potholes and building indoor toilets. Perhaps what Goa and India needs are "Historical Societies" of people who appreciate history and are dedicated to its preservation. Preserving history involves more than talking and writing about it. India can use innovative ideas for fund raising and promoting its assets. We have got to get-off blaming the govt and doing somethings ourselves. Regards, GL
