The Taj : Myth and Reality : Celebrating 350 years of Splendid Glory

Contents: Preface. Editorial note. 1. Growing in the shadow of the Taj/R.V. Smith. 2. Who designed the Taj?/Thomas Smith. 3. The foreign hand in the making of the Taj: an Italian claim/H. Hosten S.J. 4. The beauty par excellence : feminity of the Taj/Percy Brown. 5. Leaning minarets and shaking doors/Thomas Smith. 6. The mystery of the mysterious cracks/Thomas Smith. 7. The pre-Mughal Taj garden/N.R. Smith. 8. The Taj fountains/N.R. Smith. 9. Theory of the six graves/R.V. Smith. 10. The annual Urs at the Taj/Thomas Smith. 11. The Taj by Moonlight/R.V. Smith. 12. Memorable moments at the Taj/L.E. Smith. 13. Sweet memories of the Taj are made of this!/Amit Newton. 14. And the Taj minaret kissed my hand/Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. 15. Is the Taj slowly dying?/Thomas Smith. 16. Pollution threat to the Taj/N.R. Smith. 17. A face-lift for the Taj/N.R. Smith. 18. Myths about the Taj/Ivan Smith. 19. When a soldier saved the Taj/Thomas Smith. 20. Crime, season and the Taj syndrome/R.V. Smith. 21. Diana and the boats/R.V. Smith.

"The Taj, says a knowledgeable, is \'a building that defies criticism and is within more measurable distance of perfection than any other work of man\'. It is the embodiment of the best and most beautiful in philosophy, art and love. It is the expression of poetic fancy, a fairyland production, a magnificent edifice, a glorious contemplation.

The \'perfect beauty\' is celebrating the 350 year of her life now. The present work is our humble tribute to her ever-youthfulness, delicacy, present work is our humble tribute to her ever-youthfulness, delicacy, grace and elegance!."