People around the world see the Taj Mahal as a symbol of eternal love. Poets too have described the Taj Mahal as a monument of love and praised its enchanting beauty and grandeur.
Shaqueel Badayuni wrote:
EK Shahenshah ne banwake hasin taj mahal sari dunia ko muhabbat ki nishani de di
(An emperor built the Taj Mahal and gave the world an eternal symbol of love)
But here is a verse with a contrary view – the poet says, “In building the Taj Mahal, an emperor has made a mockery of the love of all the poor lovers of the world”
Taj tere liye ek mazar-e-ulfat hi sahi
tujhko is vaadi-e-rangi.n se aqidat hi sahi
meri mehboob kahi.n aur mila kar mujhse
bazm-e-shaahi me garibo.n ka guzar kya maani.
Naqsh jis raah pe ho.n satvat-e-shaahi ke nishaa.n
us pe ulfat bhari rooho.n ka safar kya maani
Ye chamanzar, ye Jamna ka Kinara, ye mahal
Ye munaqqash dar – o – deewar, Ye mehrab, ye taq,
Ek Shahenshah ne daulat Ka sahara le kar,
Hum gharibon ki muhabbat, Ka Udaya hai mazaq
Mere Mehboob Kahin aur Mila Kar Mujhse.
(Sahir Ludhianvi)
The poet urges his sweetheart that they meet at some other place – not the Taj Mahal.
(I agree) Tajmahal is the monument of love for you,
you have (a lover’s) faith in its beautiful gardens (you believe our love will blossom here)
but my love, meet me elsewhere – not here.
What meaning do the lives of the impoverished have to the congregation of royals?
The road which is marked with the signs of imperial cruelty
the travails of lovers’ souls have no meaning
These gardens, the bank of river Jamuna, this palace
These intricate carvings on the doors, walls, arches and alcoves
An emperor, on crutches of wealth
has ridiculed the love of us commoners.
My love, meet me somewhere else (not here)