Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Taj Mahal is in the final shortlist of the new Seven Wonders of the World but faces tough competition from 20 other finalists.
The voting process is on at the moment but very few Indians even know about the campaign. The Ministry for Culture and Tourism has made no effort to ensure that Indians vote and the vote for Taj campaign has only now made it to the Culture Ministry's website.
The Government has not linked the Taj campaign to the Incredible India campaign and it seems not too many members of Parliament are even aware that there's only one month to go to vote for the Taj.
With time running out, it seems the only people who are voting for the marvel in marble are artists like AR Rahman, who has composed a song for the India Unites campaign to vote for the Taj Mahal.
So, is India serious about making the Taj Mahal one of the new Seven Wonders? Face The Nation asked a panel comprising Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Leena Nandan and Chairman of India Unites For Taj, Bharat Kapadia.
The number game
Voting for the Taj is on at a website called www.new7wonders.com. But the government has woken up perhaps a bit too late and now wants everyone to join in. The Taj still has an outside chance of making it to the Seven Wonders of the World, as the final results will be out on July 7.
India is a country of one billion people and this is the time to muster the power of numbers. With just a month to go for the new list, the Government it seems has failed to communicate to the people that they should log on the website to vote for the Taj.
“I think it’s basically the question of civil society coming together. Government is just a part of this country. So, to that extent a momentum is required to be built up with the private sector coming on board and led by the media,” Nandan said.
But why was it not part of the Incredible India campaign? It could have had a tag out like – vote for the Taj!
To which Nandan said, “We have put a banner on the website.” But hastened to add that the banner was recently put up.
Nandan believes that the entire exercise needs to be “synchronised.”
“We should not appear to be losing heart because the initiative needs to be flagged. People need to be made aware and that is happening,” she added.
But how many Indians know about this campaign or for that matter how many MPs know about it?
“The awareness is very poor because as of now only 2 per cent of voting has gone from India. As of today, India figures 14th in the list. If we have to make it to the top seven then every India has to vote. Voting is also possible by mobile. One just has to type Taj to 4567 and vote. So we are trying our best to make as many people aware as possible,” Kapadia explained.
MIRACLE CAN SAVE THE TAJ | |
 | Despite efforts taken by the Government to preserve the 17th-century edifice, pollution is taking its toll. Pollution is turning the Taj Mahal yellow due to high levels of suspended particulate matter or tiny granules of dirt in the air. The findings are based on data from the Air Pollution Monitoring Laboratory. The report recommends applying a special mud pack to the building to restore its alabaster look. Over 30 lakh tourists visit the Taj every year. |
But with the lackluster approach of the Government, questions are being raised on should such kind of initiatives be given over to the private sector because the Centre has simply failing to publicise the campaign properly.
Walking the tightrope, Nandan said, “This is an entirely private sector led initiative. This activity has been built up by an international NGO. It has nothing to do with UNESCO, which incidentally not many people are aware of. For every Indian this is an opportunity to show how proud we are of our heritage.”
The Government has taken up the issue now but failed to appreciate the urgency of the matter.
Disagreeing with the argument, Nandan said, “Of course, as I mentioned there is already an effort by the ASI, by the Ministry of Tourism and then the media is coming forward to make sure that people take up the cause. There is no issue of putting the onus on somebody but what needs to be done right now is to put our best foot forward.”
On the other hand, India Unites For Taj has been getting a phenomenal response and people are willing to come on board to help Taj make the final cut.
However, Kapadia ended the discussion on a dismal note saying, “Once people are aware then everybody wants to do it. But I am very sorry to say that the Government has not done enough. They are also not giving the resources that we are asking for. Too much of time has been wasted on discussions without any results.”
Final results of the question of the day: Is India serious about making the Taj Mahal one of the new Seven Wonders?
Yes – 51 per cent
No – 49 per cent
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