Taj Mahal, a symbol of love, is recognised worldwide and is marvelled at for its architectural genius. This 17th-century heritage building reminds us of a love that prompted a Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to build a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who had died in childbirth.
This architectural expression of love, Taj Mahal, has also been the subject of a perennial debate that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple, 'Tejo Mahalaya,' and that it represents Islamic aggression on a Hindu land.
So, the question is, does the Taj Mahal represent religion? The answer is a resounding 'no'; it represents love.
To understand the history of Taj Mahal and the persistent controversy around it, watch one of our videos from the archives, where we spoke to historian Pushpesh Pant.
And to understand in what ways the Taj Mahal inspired poets, tune in to this episode of Urdunama where Fabeha Syed reads poets like Kaifi Azmi and Sahir Ludhianvi, who think that the structure is in fact a 'mockery of love.'
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