Legacy_Of_Taj

Taj.’

That was what Abhay had heard about the great monument while growing up in the historic city of Agra. Until, he came across a view about the counter claims of the legacy of the Taj. A preposterous yet, compelling view about the Indian origins of the monument! Was there even an iota of truth in these claims? Or was it just a case of ‘reductio ad absurdum’? Abhay’s analytical instincts do not allow him to overlook the provocative appeal of these claims. He decides to take a definitive action on his own; to establish the most substantive counter factual argument and get to the bottom of these claims. If it is proved right, then by extrapolation, the others will also stand a chance of being proven. If it fails, then the bluff in these counter claims would be exposed. It helps that this quest of his also presents him a subject to seek a teaching assignment while being in the company of the intelligent Jasmeet and the monument which, true to its reputation, does not fail to enkindle romance. Does Abhay succeed in disproving the claims? Or, does he yield to the confounding possibilities around the unrecorded antecedents of the monument? Or, does his broader inclusive perspective lead him to a higher moral ground at the risk of being termed a statusquoist? The book presents to the reader the diverse elements of this dilemma. These elements span across historical events involving the Taj, the impact of the socio-political environment during the reigns of the Mughals, their contributions in the construction of monuments across centuries and the evolution of design features leading to the remarkable synthesis of the Indian and Mughal architectural styles. Amusingly, Abhay is eventually aided to arrive at a decision over this dilemma about the antecedents of the beautiful Taj by his chance and thought-changing meetings with an elderly lady who is challenged of sight and a drunkard who normally can be expected to be challenged to prudently reason. The book shares interesting insights on history and architecture collated from the author’s research. These have been fascinatingly dove-tailed into the storyline while making the reader aware of our rich cultural heritage. Sketches of the layout of the Taj complex and a few relevant architectural elements aid the reader understand the same better. The required tinge of excitement is added with the main protagonist undertaking a rather adventurous rendezvous to unearth the truth behind the counter claims around the monument. Added to these is the blend of romance that grows as the narrative progresses. The story is interspersed with numerous characters of various hues – stern characters from the establishment, humorous detectives and tourist guides with loads of attitude, to a bunch of young post-graduates who add their own flavor to the theme. Another aspect that may be highlighted is the style of story-telling. While the dialogues between characters are written like every-day interactions between real people, there has been a conscious effort to repeat select dialogues and situations to present a dramatic effect that makes the reader feel involved with the characters and the developing storyline. The book ends with the likeable few pages of a mature romance reaching its logical end with the repetition of the rather theatric dialogue of the guide, as at the beginning of this synopsis, to underline the need for conservation and the eternal legacy of the Taj. Details:

Author: Ajit Phanse Published by: WordSmith Publications, Pune

Language: English Pages: 368 Format: Paperback