Who ‘Owns’ Heritage?

 

When we talk about cultural heritage we tend to think about the history of a specific group of people and the things that define them. However we can forget that cultures always mix, and often heritage is shared between cultures. A modern example of the conflicts this can cause is the religious fight over the Taj Mahal.

The Nationalists Claim

The Taj Mahal in the state of Agra in northern India, is a mausoleum built for the wife of a Mughal emperor in the 17^th century. The Mughals were Shia Muslims and the Taj Mahal is seen by many as the greatest example of Muslim-Indian architecture and it attracts millions of visitors every year. But in 2015 some nationalist Hindu groups claimed that the Taj Mahal is actually built on a shrine for the Hindu God Shiva, and many in the state of Agra claim that the Muslim Mughals were a detriment to the country, as imperial rulers.

Opposing Argument

This conflict became somewhat heated due to the often contentions relationship between Hindus and Muslims in India. In August of this year archaeologists have claimed that there is no basis to the assertion that the Taj Mahal was built on a Hindu temple, and others have noted for some time that the construction of the monument is very well documented and the claims made by the nationalists are entirely fictional.

 

Left: Mumtaz Mahal, who the building was built for.  Right: Shah Jahan, who commissioned the building.

 

The Opinions of the Locals

This conflict over who should actually claim the Taj Mahal has since died down a little, but there remains strong difference of opinion on whether the Mughal era should be seen as a rich part of Indian heritage or an era of Muslim imperialism over the Hindu population. Although almost everyone in the state of Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, agree at least that it is a vital part of the local economy and wish to continue to encourage the arrival of tourists.

This conflict, like many others, reminds us that we still define heritage by how we see it in hindsight, and that it is far from a straightforward issue. We should remember that as long as people mix, heritage will always be mixed with it, and it is impossible to entirely separate the history of one group of people from another.

 

 References:

—http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/30/indian-archaeologists-refute-claim-taj-mahal-hindu-temple/

–https://www.npr.org/2017/10/28/560554643/hindu-nationalists-stir-up-controversy-over-taj-mahal

–http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html

–http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-34971759

–http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-agra-lawyers-claim-taj-mahal-was-originally-shiva-temple-2108959