The Taj Conspiracy (39 page)

Through a cloud of cigarette smoke Singh scrutinised Kriplani: was he the real behrupiya behind the Taj conspiracy?

Acknowledgements

Certain monuments come to define their nations: the Eiffel Tower, France; the Statue of Liberty, the US; the Taj Mahal, India. And yet, few Indians really
know
the Taj, beyond its fabled beauty and the legendary love that inspired it. They’re even less aware of the alarming vulnerability of the monument in the face of increasing pollution, a depleting Yamuna, and rising terror. I have attempted, through this book, to create a greater appreciation for the monument that is more symbolic of our heritage than we realise.

To borrow from a character in the book who, at a critical juncture when the Taj Mahal is facing an extraordinary threat, exhorts a police officer thus: ‘
Just as the colour white contains all colours within it, this monument of white embodies our innate, ancient pluralism. Save the Taj Mahal, Singh, that monument stands for India.
’

This book is based on years of research and I owe much gratitude to the scholarly works of several Taj historians such as Amina Okada, Mohan C. Joshi, Gilles Tilottson, amongst others. I would, however, be remiss if I didn’t make a special mention of Ebba Koch and her marvelous book,
The Complete Taj Mahal
. I am so impressed with Ms Koch’s dedication to the Taj that I have based the scholarship of a character in the book— Professor Kaul—on her.

To the best of my knowledge, all descriptions of architecture, artwork, calligraphy, documents, and urban legends around the Taj, are accurate. There is one secret trapdoor that I’ve had the impunity to add in a room inside the Taj Mahal—that is a thriller writer’s privilege which, I hope, Shah Jahan shall deign to overlook.

I consulted people in the Indian police for valuable insight on security matters, and I thank Anjaneyulu for allowing me to pick his brain. I am grateful to V.K. Karthika for an initial reading of the manuscript and her valuable feedback. My agent, Jayapriya at Jacaranda, is a friend who has never stopped championing my work. My editor, Deepthi Talwar, for her evident enthusiasm for the book, and a sharp eye that misses nothing—the manuscript is stronger because of you.

I’d like to acknowledge the artisans who work at the Taj Mahal on ridiculously low wages as they chisel and saw and inlay the parchin kari to keep the world’s most beautiful monument pristine. And the security personnel who guard it, both within and without.

I am blessed to have an ustad like Gulzar saab—I could not have hoped for a more inspiring mentor as I continue my writing journey.

And now I must turn to the people who have provided laughter, support, love, red wine, re-readings, and cards filled with little hearts as I strove over the years to complete my book: my daughter Malvika and my husband Prasanna. Writers are notoriously difficult people to live with and this writer can, at the best of times, be tetchy. Thank you, my family, for your loyalty, love and stoicism—Mumtaz must have been a kindred spirit for having inspired Shah Jahan thus!