Commuter Accessory Systems for Suburban Bombay Trains / Street Vendors Mimetic Scheme / Monuments and Edifices

Monuments and Edifices

Reconciliation and truth

An exposition by the UNICELL Department of Monuments and Edifices.

Historic Memory

Set up in South Africa after the removal of the apartheid, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is regarded as one of the most effective commissions to date in terms of integrity and retributive justice. It played a major part in the transition to a democratic nation from the earlier oppressive colonial regime. With the work of the TRC, the role of remembering and preserving collective memory and cultural memory as it plays an important role in defining the identity of a nation/ society was acknowledged. Monuments, official edifices and memorials serve as reminders of history and memory. They function as receptacles of the ethos of a people. Even if the histories are brutal or tyrannical, the commemorative/ official edifices constitute a stockpile for future generations. After the regime changed in South Africa , none of the monuments and memorials from the times of apartheid was destroyed. They remained as markers that help to transcend the turbulent past towards a more inclusive, reconciled, integrated future

It is necessary to forgive but not to forget… so that by remembering the past we do not let it repeat it self.

In other countries though, the fall of a regime was accompanied by endless episodes of toppling of statues from the earlier times- as in the soviet bloc where the statues and monuments from the communist era were pulled down.

Identity/Pride

Because of the appalling conditions due to the austere measures and Structural Adjustment Programmes imposed by the IMF and the World Bank, and no other rallying force, Islamic fundamentalism has emerged in the Middle East . It is the new boogey for the imperialists after the fall of communism.

The sanctions and exploitation in the Middle East brought down the WTC - the pride of the big apple. Bamiyan Buddhas a world heritage monument, which had stood for centuries were felled by the Taliban as they found themselves without a keel and their regime unrecognized by the rest of the world ( save Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE)… a castigation for the global powers. The Bamiyan Buddhas were a monument they identified with the rest of the world the cultural heritage they did not want to identify with.

Secularism/Tolerance

In 1992 Babri Masjid is razed. It had to be destroyed to reinforce the Hindutva ideology. Subsequently in 2002, during the violence in Gujarat , 500 mosques, dargahs and imam-baras came down for BJP to win the elections with absolute power.

Sovereignty

America has had a long record of toppling regimes it considers ‘unfriendly'. (A select list of American interventions: – Iran 1953, Guatemala 1954, Congo 1960, Cuba 1961, Dominican Republic 1965, Chile 1973, Grenada 1983, Libya 1986, Philippines 1986, Panama 1989, Somalia 1992, Haiti 1994, Yugoslavia 1999, Afghanistan 2001, Iraq 2003) After the recent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq they have been unable to put in place any form of effective alternative governance. There is utter chaos. So in their desperation, they brought down statues of Saddam. The images relayed to us made us believe that they were brought down by the people- citizens of Iraq who are thankful for their ‘liberation' thus legitimizing the American incursion.

The attacks on monuments and edifices by fundametalisms are cloaked under religious intolerance and Militarism under deliverance but both essentially are acts to bolster their right to be in command.

“Razing of monuments and icons of the past (by mobs can happen only when there is a tacit sanction of authorities in fact it is often orchestrated by the authorities- It not only…) is good proof to show that democracy is workingpeople are taking charge. (to purge chapters from their histories)…By felling the monument / icon the mobs give the powers that be, a mandate to continue in their tenure/ occupancy.” (Whether they are imperialist powers or fundamentalist… and to complete the annihilation) .

Chief Executive Officer, UNICELL

 A survey conducted by UNICELL has proved that too much time, energy and finances have to be spent to maintain them (The cost of maintaining the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat New Delhi is Rs. 40 million per year). Or then the redressal of such events in case of interventions by the truth and reconciliation commissions leads up to phenomenal costs. (The Liberhan Commission which was constituted for the inquiry into the demolition of the Babri Mosque has till date cost the state exchequer Rs.7.20 million.)

Such edifices and icons of the past thus have not much use other than for venting public ire. ( opportunely in the presence of the media)

So as to do away with this violent temptation it is recommended by UNICELL that all the future monuments should be created as debris.

It is necessary that these monuments be unidentifiable as belonging to any particular people, (since it is easy to lump people only on the basis of just their religious identiy) so as to avoid despoliation.

For this it is recommended that:

•  These are installed in a special zone that is neutral and unidentifiable as belonging to any particular peoples. This could be situated on some island or in a desert.

•  These fragments should further be grafted/ attached to each other thus creating one continuous unidentifiable mega monument.

•  These could have file names that specify the dedications but the actual fragment-monuments should be untitled.

UNICELL has formed a central administrative body

‘International Department for Monuments and Edifices'.

(Recognition from the respective offices pending)

No country/ state should build any monuments on their own.

All proposals along with funds to be submitted to this department which will then employ its team of artists and architects to design and execute the projects.

 

Bureau Chief

International Department for Monuments and Edifices