Put a picture of London Bridge, Eiffel Tower, or Statue of Liberty and you instantly know without any words the city and the country being referred to. So, what is the symbol for India? What are the symbols consistent with the image of a resurgent nation which is now the world’s 5th largest economy, can feed its 1.3 or 1.4 billion people with food to spare, and which has a large start-up ecosystem and plays a huge part in the global knowledge economy?
A tomb of an invader King in Delhi? A tower that survives after demolition by an invader. A period when its most of the population was suppressed?
A white marble structure marketed as a symbol of love of a brutal king who had multiple wives, concubines and married the sister of his deceased wife in one week after her death. (Some love)?
When are we going to get out of this slave mindset? Three seemingly unconnected but, hugely connected events lead me to write this opinion and raise this question.
First was when I got talking to an American who had been to Delhi and went to Humayun Tomb and Taj Mahal as she understood these to be India’s glorious monuments. She had never heard about Hampi or Single rock-cut temple of Kailashnatha.
The second is an airline ad that shows a tomb in Delhi to indicate its service to India.
The third was a recollection of when I passed by a travel agent and saw a poster in the window of Taj Mahal and Kutub Minar.
Are these reflective of India? Today’s India? Is this the image that a modern vibrant country should project?
The image of India needs a serious makeover consistent with its place in the world.
Where are the images of new eight-lane highways, state-of-the-art train stations with skylights, metros, new parliament building, central vista corridor?
Where are the images of the resurgence of culture? The upcoming Ram Janmabhoomi temple and Kashi Vishwanath Corridor?
Where are the images of glorious heritage : Kailashnatha Temple made from a single rock and Murudeshwar Temple which is higher than Kutub Minar?
Which poster highlights the arrow at Somnath that indicates since centuries ago that there is no land from there to the South pole?
Are Kumbhalgarh and Jaisalmer fort not the right representation of the medieval world?
The invaders made tombs here to show their superiority over the locals and their imposition. Time to throw the yoke of domination away by stopping to highlight them. And if you really love the yoke then ask Queen to rule over India again. Sure, the Brits will love it. If not, please take your rightful place with pride. Every culture, every civilization, every country has gone thru high and low. Let us change the mindset and please tell the world who you really are.
I wish a small booklet about India is given to every traveler that boards a flight free. Ads can pay for it. Just one small 12-16 pages. Photographs of real monuments, travel routes, and heritage accomplishments. Enough of seeing tombs as representatives of modern resurgent vibrant India. Project the real, resurgent India.
