Miscelanea

Entrevista a Rizwan Khan: Taj Mahal

Arquitectura tradicional, maravilla el mundo, Taj Mahal, arquitectura monumental.

Por Clara Lucía Herrera Jiménez

Resumen curricular del autor:

Autor: Mohammed Rizwan Khan

E-mail: poetkhan@gmail.com

Administrador de empresas en negocios internacionales.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Mohammad Rizwan Khan

Edad 27

Yo vivo en Lucknow capital of Uttar Pradesh, India

Bachelor of Business Administration (International Business)Graduate in Law

Soy YouTuber (Our language school, poetkhan vlog)Yo publiqué mi primer libro de poesía “AAGAZ”(HINDI)

Enseño Hindi, Spanish and English online yo amo viajar, escribiendo poesías e historias.

Me encuentro haciendo una maestría en economia y diplomado en Yoga.

Lucía Herrera:
Para esta entrevista, presento a Rizwan Khan, un youtuber nativo de la India, quien nos hablará sobre el Taj Mahal, lugar reconocido en la India como una de las bellezas del mundo ¿Qué uso tiene este monumento arquitectónico, además de la visita de miles de turistas de todo el mundo? Así como ¿Qué clase de eventos se realizan en esta obra arquitectónica? Y para conocer más sobre el contexto que encierra este emblemático edificio, le pediré a Rizwan Khan, que nos cuente una breve historia sobre el motivo de su construcción y su significado.

Rizwan Khan:
Thousands of tourists from overseas visit the Taj Mahal every year. Many famous people have visited this beautiful monument like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and others. Princess Diana also visited the Taj Mahal; (that is the reason why the bench on which she sat is called as Diana’s bench), The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum made of ivory-white marble located on the south bank of the Yamuna River in Agra. In 2007, it was stated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal was built in 22 years approximately and it was nominated by the UNESCO in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. What it makes the Taj Mahal special is the love story behind it. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan constructed this mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz and the emperor were soul mates. She died while giving birth to her 14th child. The Emperor was overcome with grief so he decided to build her a monument of eternal love. That is why Taj Mahal is known as the Symbol of Love that inspires the love all around the world.

Lucía Herrera:
Después de contextualizarnos sobre la historia de este Mausoleo, me gustaría que nos contara sobre la conservación del mismo ¿Qué clase de mantenimiento se le da? ¿Ha tenido algún daño que sea de alto impacto y que necesite de algún tipo de intervención especial?

Rizwan Khan:
During the years, the Taj Mahal's ivory-white exterior has been stained brown, green and yellow by industrial pollution. Experts predicted that if the air in Agra was not monitored and cleaned, the exterior of the mausoleum would eventually turn black. Many laws have been stated since then, so up until 1993, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of 212 industrial plants in Agra because of the critical situation. A green zone was also established around the Taj Mahal and prohibits the construction of industrial plants and supports the planting of trees and shrubs. Traffic is also a significant problem in Agra. The city and the surrounding area have 5.5 million people living there and attract 7 million tourists annually. Although the positive effects of these prohibitions are questionable. The Archaeological Survey of India giving its best to keep it safe but it’s not enough we all should understand our responsibility towards environment.

Lucía Herrera:
¿Tiene este edificio algún impacto religioso? Y de ser así, ¿Hay alguna actividad que se practique y se le atribuya a esto?

Rizwan Khan:
There isn’t any religious impact there is mosque inside Taj Mahal. All people who belong to any religion can visit the mausoleum. The Archaeological Survey of India banned prayers in the square of the Taj Mahal mosque for security, provoking the irritation of the local Muslim community. The Archaeological Department issued and order, appointed by the government. Muslims living in the area are allowed to participate only in Friday prayers; there is a total restriction for all other visitors.

Lucía Herrera:
Durante sus varias visitas a este lugar, ¿Ha habido alguna modificación o cambio notable en este monumento arquitectónico? De ser así, ¿cuáles han sido?

Rizwan Khan:
The Taj Mahal mausoleum is divided into 5 sections:
1. The 'moonlight garden' which is in the north of the river Yamuna.
2. The riverfront terrace which has the Mausoleum, the Mosque and the Jawab.
3. The Charbagh garden which contains pavilions.
4. The jilaukhana consists of accommodation for the tomb attendants and two subsidiary tombs.
5. The Taj Ganji, originally a bazaar and caravanserai only traces of which are still preserved. The great gate lies between the jilaukhana and the garden.
6. Taj Mahal Museum has 3 galleries and more than 100 display items that attract every tourist who visits Taj Mahal. It was inaugurated in 1982. There are few changes the Taj Mahal has had. By the time it was constructed there was no electricity.

Lucía Herrera:
Para concluir con la entrevista, ¿cual es el impacto social que ha tenido la conservación de esta obra arquitectónica a lo largo del tiempo dentro de Agra, India?

Rizwan Khan:
There is great social impact of this architectonic work such as hotels’ guides who speak multiple languages, photographers and taxi drivers earn money. Tourism also gives a boost to the sale of local handicrafts including clothes, leather goods, cultural artifacts made of marble, stone carving and inlay work. Handicrafts made by prisoners are sold in emporiums too.