Splendor amid Squalor
Just came back from a trip to India. Visited Jaipur and Agra. Saw the Taj Mahal for the first time- and it is a gorgeous piece of work. Should be on everyone's bucket list. An example of beautiful things men are capable of creating - and that too on a grand scale. When you visit the Qutb Minar - you also see excellence and superb attention to detail in construction.
And yet - these places are surrounded by squalor. It is as if the people (and municipalities) are blind to the beauty amidst them. In Jaipur - the pink city - with its superb examples of architectural beauty .. one would think the local developers (and populace) would be inspired and would start a design renaissance .but no! A plethora of truly ugly buildings abound. More ugly buildings being built all the time. And these are people with money - who could afford better looking designs. You see structures with totally non functional, unfinished beams jutting out like broken bones disfiguring a body. One almost wonders if the local developers and architects ever visit the jewels they have in their midst. I wonder if the phrase "Pearls before swine?" was coined for them.
Agra is a total disaster. The municipality and the state - should be ashamed . One almost longs for what a company like Disney could do with such a marvelous treasure in the city ! It's almost as if - everything around the fine raiment must be filthy rags to accentuate the contrast.
The Italians parlayed their artistic heritage into design leadership (and businesses) in fashion , architecture, construction materials. But in India and the muslim world - heirs to such a beautiful heritage -we have wasted it and almost trash it !
Whatever happened to the aesthetic sense in living spaces? It is not a question of the poor vs rich - because all you have to do is see the beautiful displays by street vegetable and fruit vendors in the open markets.
But the beauty has survived amidst the squalor for centuries . Waiting patiently. Perhaps one day the populace will wake up, take notice and get truly inspired to beautify their living spaces !!
And yet - these places are surrounded by squalor. It is as if the people (and municipalities) are blind to the beauty amidst them. In Jaipur - the pink city - with its superb examples of architectural beauty .. one would think the local developers (and populace) would be inspired and would start a design renaissance .but no! A plethora of truly ugly buildings abound. More ugly buildings being built all the time. And these are people with money - who could afford better looking designs. You see structures with totally non functional, unfinished beams jutting out like broken bones disfiguring a body. One almost wonders if the local developers and architects ever visit the jewels they have in their midst. I wonder if the phrase "Pearls before swine?" was coined for them.
Agra is a total disaster. The municipality and the state - should be ashamed . One almost longs for what a company like Disney could do with such a marvelous treasure in the city ! It's almost as if - everything around the fine raiment must be filthy rags to accentuate the contrast.
The Italians parlayed their artistic heritage into design leadership (and businesses) in fashion , architecture, construction materials. But in India and the muslim world - heirs to such a beautiful heritage -we have wasted it and almost trash it !
Whatever happened to the aesthetic sense in living spaces? It is not a question of the poor vs rich - because all you have to do is see the beautiful displays by street vegetable and fruit vendors in the open markets.
But the beauty has survived amidst the squalor for centuries . Waiting patiently. Perhaps one day the populace will wake up, take notice and get truly inspired to beautify their living spaces !!
Comments