Sunday 29 April 2018

‘ADOPTION’ OF THE ‘ORPHANED’ LAL QILA


‘ADOPTION’ OF THE ‘ORPHANED’ LAL QILA


The current fauxtrage on the plan of the government of India to involve reputed companies / organisations for the maintenance of iconic monuments is just unfortunate. Those creating ruckus on this issue are just faking their injury, a kinda pretentious on the issue. Wonder if any of these top notch guys who are creating ruckus over the issue, ever visited these’ institutions’ of national importance, ever since obtaining their adulthood. Wonder if any of them felt like peeing during their visit but could not locate any public facility. Wonder if any of them felt like having a sip of water in the scorching sun while on such a visit, only to find that there was no water. Wonder if any of these creating hubbub ever felt the need of sitting under the shade of a tree or on the lawns or benches while on the visit to such romantically scintillating places where one feels as if someone from the history bygone might come up front? Those creating this brouhaha have a fleet of lackeys running around brandishing their guns and umbrellas and cold water bottles and even folding chairs for their masters to rest their butts on.

All of this in full view of lesser mortals who brave the existing tough and inconvenient conditions only on account of their sheer wish to visit the history, unlike these  visiting ‘cream rolls’ who visit only to be either seen there for some goddamn photo shoot. Mercifully these ‘cream rolls’ remain unaware of the curses being showered on them by the lesser mortals around.

The iconic Red Fort which was lovingly and adoringly got built by Emperor Shah Jehan and commissioned in 1639 stands orphaned today on account of the apathy of the governments and government agencies entrusted with its upkeep.


                                        
                                                     (Pic, courtesy the net)


Only the facade of the crumbling Red Fort is cleaned once in a year when successive Prime Ministers of the country visit with the ‘shan-o- shaukat’ of the emperors who once inhabited the fort. Unfortunately these leaders visit only for about an hour once a year, primarily to satisfy their egos by way of telling stories to the people of India and to the world in general, telling about their greatness and what all wonders they achieved for the country. 

Unfortunately, this iconic symbol still remains a place to showcase the exuberance, vanity and lust for power by those who rule.



                                          
But for lesser mortals, who visit with a sense of pride, it is an icon, a story which they proudly tell to their children not only during the visit, but for years to come. The visit gets set in their mind for years. Wonder what the harm is if some basic civic amenities and comfort is attempted to be provided by someone, from private sector. The Archaeological Survey of India has grossly failed. The ministry of tourism and the ASI are mostly at loggers head so what is the harm if some ones else tries to come to the rescue of the lesser mortal of the visitors. No one, not even the government or private sectors can restore LAL QILA to its pristine glory. No one has resources so why not let some rich corporate come in to try to maintain it.




                                                         
1785 view of the Red Fort from the east. In the foreground the Rang Mahal is on the left, the Khwabgah Jharoka in the centre and the Moti Masjid on the far right. (Pic, courtesy the net)



                                        
                        View of the Red Fort from the river (by Ghulam Ali Khan, between  1852–1854 (Pic, courtesy the net)

About time the detractors who love to criticise for the sake of criticising, shut up.



                              Let someone adopt the ‘ORPHANED LAL QILA”

                               Let the soul of Bahadur Shah Zafar rest in peace. 

Let the scheme be implemented all over for the sake of lesser mortals like us.Iit is nothing but the extension of the CSR

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