Toree
International business major
Jan. 7, 2007

One summer when I was a young child, my family took a vacation to the East Coast to see, among other things, Plymouth Rock. We went because of its importance in our history, and we thought it would be exciting to see. Sadly, it really was quite a disappointment, since the rock itself, or what is left of it, is only a few feet in diameter (if that) and appears insignificant in comparison to how we value it in our minds. I remember a sense of being let down because the rock was so unimpressive and didn’t meet my expectations. Before this trip I was afraid that the same thing might happen with the Taj Mahal, and I was a little apprehensive as we drove to the site, trying to prepare myself to not be too disappointed if it didn’t really awe me. Now, having seen the Taj, I am ashamed that I ever had that fear.

The Taj Mahal is indescribably magnificent. Its marble simply gleams in the sunlight like a jewel. I first glimpsed it from a porch of a nearby hotel, rising way above the surrounding buildings, and I could not believe how beautiful the structure is, enhanced especially by the surrounding poverty and dirt. Being at the Taj Mahal was almost a surreal experience because it is unlike any building I have ever seen. Nothing compares to the type of architecture or creativity that was poured into this building, which is really a tomb for a dearly loved wife of one of the emperors of India. 

While we were touring the complex, I started to wonder why it is that humans have always felt the need to create something enormous on earth to commemorate their impending death or the death of a loved one. I mean, it is definitely okay to remember someone who has died, but it does not sit right with me that people often spend much more time, money and energy creating buildings for other human beings than they spend time, money and energy praising a God, especially one who will never cease to exist. People flock to see sites such as the pyramids or the Taj Mahal, yet the numbers who visit churches daily is extremely small. We are constantly worshipping humanity through the praise we give to the things we create, as opposed to thanking God for giving us those hands with which we can create.

As many people have said, the Taj Mahal is almost indescribable, yet it is surrounded by a community that seems unable to move forward in living standards as the country moves forward. Though the caste system has been politically abolished, monuments such as the Taj Mahal seem to reiterate that huge disparity between the rich and the poor, serving as a reminder of that difference to those who do not live in opulence. The people of India are proud of the monument, but it seems to prove that those who have money have power over history and the future and will always be remembered as history changers, when, really, the heart of change lies in the people of India. In that way, perhaps the Taj Mahal clearly personifies the Indian attitude, that India does have potential to change the world and have a lasting impact. A few centuries ago that statement was proven with the creation of the Taj, and today it is depicted by the technological jobs and businesses that populate much of India. Both feats were seemingly impossible, but they are still happening. Perhaps for that reason, the Taj represents the heart of the people: determination to rise to the top.