This newsreport on The Hindu titled Tulsi to ‘insulate’ the Taj Mahal led me off on a train of thought.

It is well known that the flagship tourist attraction of India the Taj Mahal has been suffering degradation due to excessive chemical pollution in the surrounding areas. Though state and central governments have tried several steps to preserve the monument in its original pure white form, they have gone in vain.

Recently the Uttar Pradesh forest department has collaborated with Lucknow-based Organic India to renew its efforts towards preservation of the Taj. This time it is going the organic way... by planting a million Tulasi plants around the monument. The Tulasi plant, since time immemorial has been a revered by Hindus as a holy plant with curative powers. It is in this plant that Lord Krishna resides and the Brindavana is considered one of the favourite abodes of Vishnu.

Legend says that a small leaf of Tulasi was used by Rukmini to win over Lord Krishna. Now hopefully the same Tulasi plant will protect this monument from decay and bring it back to its original glory.

I believe if this is accepted in a positive way by the Muslim community, it would lead to greater communal harmony in our disturbed nation. On retrospect I wonder if some Muslim politician or minority-appeasing Congress/ SP/ JD political honcho will let this planting happen on the grounds that it would hurt the sentiments of Muslims if a plant revered by Hindus were to be planted around the Taj. We will to have to wait and watch.