'New 7 Wonders': UP votes too small for Taj

Agra, June 19: Even as the Taj Mahal is fighting a 'world war' to be included among the seven wonders, the sheer apathy shown by its home state can hardly help the cause of this 17th century monument of eternal love and passion.

Even as voting for the world famous Taj has become a national issue, it is also providing a good source of revenue for service providers. The results would be declared on July 7 by Bollywood ctress Bipasha Basu along with Hollywood actors Ben Kingsley and Hillary Swank.

Only 18 days are left to announce the 'New Seven Wonders' of the world, out of the 21 final contestants. The campaign of the Swiss non-profit organisation 'New 7 Wonders' began in 2000. The Taj is still strongly in the reckoning, but needs more votes to make it to the final list.

Although, the Taj is fighting to be included among the seven wonders, it can only make it to the finals, if people of its home state stop their lackadaisical attitude and start voting.

The data provided by a major telecom service providers in the state reveal that the people of UP lag far behind the rest of the country in voting.

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, to honour the memory of his beloved late wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built of snow white marble and standing in formally laid-out gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed in the Agra fort and, it is said, could only have a glimpse of the monument out of his small cell window.

Every year, around crore of people across India and abroad visit Taj.

Even high-profile campaigning by Bollywood 'shehanshah' Amitabh Bachchan, newly wed couple Abhi-Ash along with former miss world Priyanka Chopra and Rani Mukherjee failed to evoke passion of the masses.

There was a time when the Taj had left behind the Great Wall of China in the contest. Sadly, the voting has considerably declined.

Notwithstanding that Agra is known as the 'Taj City,' people here are neglecting the cause of including the monument among new seven wonders of the world. Thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the administration and NGOs, one will not find even a single banner asking people to vote for Taj.

When asked, some people said, ''they do not know the meaning and importance of New 7 Wonders, but if Taj makes it to the finals, they would be proud.'' An organisation in Surat has pitched in a massive campaigning for Taj and is distributing free prepaid cards to encourage people to vote.

To vote, people need to TYPE..TAJ 20 and send it on 4567 on cell phones. According to Taj lovers, ''the results of New Seven Wonders hardly matters as the monument would always be close to their hearts. Nothing can overshadow its image of being the greatest symbol of eternal love, passion and beauty.''

UNI