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"Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is a gifted writer of great promise. I have a gut feeling we have a new star rising in Punjab's literary horizon. She has an excellent command of English and a sly sense of humour."
- Khushwant Singh on The Long Walk Home

"An enjoyable tale of a sassy girl's headlong race up the corporate ladder."
- India Today on Earning the Laundry Stripes


Friday 24 February 2012

Is This the Fate of the Taj Mahal?

The fifth phase of UP assembly elections 2012 is underway and Mayawati cannot be far from the mind, right? While her statues might have been veiled, what if the Dalit Queen fired a salvo which was totally unmissable?

Like below?!



Facts to chew over:

Cost of construction of Taj Mahal: USD 500 million (present value)

Cost of construction of Mayawati's statues: USD 400 million between 2007-2009, plus
                                                                     USD 500 million planned on future memorials

Take away:

Tucked inside those statues of elephants, Bagwati and Kanshi Ram are two Taj Mahals, at least! Howzzat?



Join the debate now, and have your say, at


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15 comments:

  1. Deepak Karthik24 February 2012 at 11:52

    i am not sure, should i laugh or cry ?
    Thanks for sharing..--Dee

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rahul Bhatia24 February 2012 at 13:51

    The sad reality of modern times when a poor state has been made poorer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manreet Sodhi Someshwar25 February 2012 at 11:16

      And looks like this state of affairs is only set to continue...

      Delete
  3. Kajal24 February 2012 at 14:40

    I agree with Deepak.. don't know weather to cry or laugh. If only we could do something about it.. For starters am joining the debate group and inviting friends...hope it goes viral and more people become aware of it.

    Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manreet Sodhi Someshwar25 February 2012 at 11:16

      Thanks Kajal, and please do share - we need more voices to join in.

      Delete
  4. umashankar24 February 2012 at 23:10

    I say Arun Shourie has a job at hand: Book II of 'Worshipping False Gods'.

    Only this one may be titled 'Worshipping False Goddess'

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bloggiri.com25 February 2012 at 00:15

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Desi Babu25 February 2012 at 02:31

    Five hundred million to create public toilets for pigeons? Yeah, that seems a bit too steep...

    Also, remember that Shah Jehan too ran the coffers dry with his memorial, so much so, that Aurangzeb the brute had to take over. I wonder if there will be a Deja-vu all over again in oo-pee?

    Peace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manreet Sodhi Someshwar25 February 2012 at 11:19

      True Desi Babu but what Shah Jahan left behind is of enduring value. As for the statues, erm, you've titled them well: 'public toilets for pigeons'!

      Delete
  7. ra26 February 2012 at 00:16

    the question is who's funding her for these kashis and the bagwatis???

    why is CBI/government not taking any initiatives to stop the corruption she's doing publicly and fearlessly !!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My Unfinished Life27 February 2012 at 23:59

    that simply means the power of mughals has been transferred to the dalits.....

    not taking any sides....had it not been better if shahjahan had fed poor people with all that money instead of building the taj mahal.im sure those poor impoverished people on India would have blessed his beloved mumtaz mahal for that!!!.....some would say then we would not have a 7th wonder that is today ....well maybe after 100 years or so....even mayawati's elephants and statues could be called 7th wonders!!!!!

    http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manreet Sodhi Someshwar28 February 2012 at 11:40

      You mean Shahjahan's power has passed on to ONE particular dalit! He lived in a time of empires, when it was expected of an emperor that he sits atop the food chain. Mayawati, apparently contesting and governing in a democratic set up, seems like a fixture from the Mughal era.

      Delete

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