My visit to India
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Sifat siddiquei
"Attention please! Within a very short period we will reach our destination at New Delhi. The train has been delayed by 50 minutes. Thank you!" The feminine announcement raised goose bumps of excitement on me as I was finally heading towards my 'Delli ka laddo'! Gathering up stuffs, the moment I got down from the train, a swarm of porters struggled up to take hold of my belongings. Checking out from the arrival, I went to the government tourist association to register for a package to Uttar Pradesh. Then accommodating myself in the Tata-Indica car, I set off to explore India!!!
The rural town of Ajmeer has been greatly facilitated with newly-built roads and highways---giving it a Texas look. I was booked into a 'no-star' hotel (as there is none) which was quite far from the 'Darga'. Early in the morning, I set off for the 'Khawja Moinuddin Chistie' shrine---a place of undiminished blessings! This sanctum is said to be tributed by Raja-e-Hind Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar with approximately 560 kilos of pure gold. The tomb itself is folded entirely with silver. The carvings on its walls, the delicate architecture of the mosques and the enormous pile of thousands of roses, chadars and candles add to the aura of the place. All throughout the year, the 'Darga' is thronged by believers from all over the world, as 'Baba' is said to send none back home empty-hand. The place was basically established in an isolated desert, on top of high hills and far way from human habitation. But now as I climbed down the stairs, there was a different scenario ahead of me. Hundreds of tiny restaurants, tea-stalls, clothings, electronics and accessories have settled down around it. The scenic views of bushy mountains are barricaded by motels, guest houses and apartments. Brazen sounds of amplifiers and latest pop-music reverberated like swings. It was as if one had come here to acquire necessities rather than to quench mind-storms!
Taking a heavy heart from Ajmeer, I travelled to the world of tradition and customs---Jaipur! As my car snaked through the roads, more could be sighted of taxis, range rovers and private metros rather than the lingering of ornamented camels or bullock-carts. Where there were huts and cultivation have now been eradicated for shopping malls, grill-chickens or BMW showrooms. Women no more attire themselves with arm bangles and stricken marun 'Ghagra-choli', nor men wear tangled 'Pagris'. Typical Ragesthani dancing and music, that could once be encountered anywhere, are now rarities only arranged during specific occasions of documentaries or television programmes. Markets stalk more of imported and average goods rather than traditional commodities. The 'Amir Fort', the 'Jaal Mehel', all are being renovated over and over again---in addition to inheriting dangers from common localisations as even the small palaces built by the blues for the lowlies are being indulged as rest houses and grocery shops.
The journey from 'Fathepur Shikri' to Agra was no different. The existence of peacocks wearing gorgeous hues, the uncountable varieties of winter birds migrating and the sharp horned deers grazing around no more saturate the four corners of Sikandarabad---Zillellaahi's monument.
Lack of love is now threatening the 'Symbol of Love' itself---Taj Mahal. Whether it was a creation of God or his man cannot be comprehended. Built of transparent marble encarved with blazing stones, it is the emblem of devotion towards not only immortal passion but also its Creator. Ayats of the Holy Quran glorify its enclosures. Perhaps beauty can be defined but not the Taj Mahal. But its mortification is deteriorating day-by-day as the once pearl-white marbles are building grey shades on them due to the concentration of severe industrialisation once around. The Jamuna that once had a heart filled with blood for her Taj now lies dead--- thirsty!
The inexplicable domain of the Iranian-Gulab Noorjahan is getting corroded rapidly by the thickly acidified air enveloping it. Same goes with 'Queen Victoria Memorial' where the reddish-brown colouration of pure bronzed statues and symbols are taking the form of green.
Wonders will not remain wonders; domains will not retain esteem and traditions will not symbolise establishment if we think urbanisation and westernisation to be the only standard forms of adaptation everywhere. All places would become no different from one's own home town if individual race and civilisation do not strictly adhere to their origin.
Sifat Siddiquei is an A level student at Maple Leaf International School, Dhaka
"Attention please! Within a very short period we will reach our destination at New Delhi. The train has been delayed by 50 minutes. Thank you!" The feminine announcement raised goose bumps of excitement on me as I was finally heading towards my 'Delli ka laddo'! Gathering up stuffs, the moment I got down from the train, a swarm of porters struggled up to take hold of my belongings. Checking out from the arrival, I went to the government tourist association to register for a package to Uttar Pradesh. Then accommodating myself in the Tata-Indica car, I set off to explore India!!!
The rural town of Ajmeer has been greatly facilitated with newly-built roads and highways---giving it a Texas look. I was booked into a 'no-star' hotel (as there is none) which was quite far from the 'Darga'. Early in the morning, I set off for the 'Khawja Moinuddin Chistie' shrine---a place of undiminished blessings! This sanctum is said to be tributed by Raja-e-Hind Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar with approximately 560 kilos of pure gold. The tomb itself is folded entirely with silver. The carvings on its walls, the delicate architecture of the mosques and the enormous pile of thousands of roses, chadars and candles add to the aura of the place. All throughout the year, the 'Darga' is thronged by believers from all over the world, as 'Baba' is said to send none back home empty-hand. The place was basically established in an isolated desert, on top of high hills and far way from human habitation. But now as I climbed down the stairs, there was a different scenario ahead of me. Hundreds of tiny restaurants, tea-stalls, clothings, electronics and accessories have settled down around it. The scenic views of bushy mountains are barricaded by motels, guest houses and apartments. Brazen sounds of amplifiers and latest pop-music reverberated like swings. It was as if one had come here to acquire necessities rather than to quench mind-storms!
Taking a heavy heart from Ajmeer, I travelled to the world of tradition and customs---Jaipur! As my car snaked through the roads, more could be sighted of taxis, range rovers and private metros rather than the lingering of ornamented camels or bullock-carts. Where there were huts and cultivation have now been eradicated for shopping malls, grill-chickens or BMW showrooms. Women no more attire themselves with arm bangles and stricken marun 'Ghagra-choli', nor men wear tangled 'Pagris'. Typical Ragesthani dancing and music, that could once be encountered anywhere, are now rarities only arranged during specific occasions of documentaries or television programmes. Markets stalk more of imported and average goods rather than traditional commodities. The 'Amir Fort', the 'Jaal Mehel', all are being renovated over and over again---in addition to inheriting dangers from common localisations as even the small palaces built by the blues for the lowlies are being indulged as rest houses and grocery shops.
The journey from 'Fathepur Shikri' to Agra was no different. The existence of peacocks wearing gorgeous hues, the uncountable varieties of winter birds migrating and the sharp horned deers grazing around no more saturate the four corners of Sikandarabad---Zillellaahi's monument.
Lack of love is now threatening the 'Symbol of Love' itself---Taj Mahal. Whether it was a creation of God or his man cannot be comprehended. Built of transparent marble encarved with blazing stones, it is the emblem of devotion towards not only immortal passion but also its Creator. Ayats of the Holy Quran glorify its enclosures. Perhaps beauty can be defined but not the Taj Mahal. But its mortification is deteriorating day-by-day as the once pearl-white marbles are building grey shades on them due to the concentration of severe industrialisation once around. The Jamuna that once had a heart filled with blood for her Taj now lies dead--- thirsty!
The inexplicable domain of the Iranian-Gulab Noorjahan is getting corroded rapidly by the thickly acidified air enveloping it. Same goes with 'Queen Victoria Memorial' where the reddish-brown colouration of pure bronzed statues and symbols are taking the form of green.
Wonders will not remain wonders; domains will not retain esteem and traditions will not symbolise establishment if we think urbanisation and westernisation to be the only standard forms of adaptation everywhere. All places would become no different from one's own home town if individual race and civilisation do not strictly adhere to their origin.
Sifat Siddiquei is an A level student at Maple Leaf International School, Dhaka