Alive Dead

The title might sound something horrifying but I assure its nothing of that type. Let me ask everyone a question. Have you ever thought what is the thing in this world which is as much dead as it is alive? we encounter it almost everyday. If not everyday then at least once in a month.Something which is as much living as as it is non living??

The tall office buildings of cities which remain crowded with people during the daytime are as silent as the dead at night.With deserted streets,dark rooms they are just like haunted houses.They are again back to life in the next morning.Well the office buildings will continue to be offices for years to come until and unless they become too weak to be demolished.

What about the historical monuments...The forts,palaces which ones have been the abode of the royals---now a mere tourist spot??

Few months back I had been to Rajasthan. Apart from places like Jaipur,Amer,Chittor I liked Udaipur the best...Because of its marvelous palace. The Udaipur Palace,which bears the history of so many kings and queens right from the Mughal rule till the British and then an Independent India--now is a deserted one which only entertain tourists. I also watched the Light and Sound in the evening which recited the entire story right from Rana Uday Singh,the sacrifices of Panna Dhai by allowing her own son to be killed just to save the future monarch, The Mughal attack,the Johar of Rani Padmavati,the battle of Haldighati and many more.But as the show ended and everybody left I looked back at the vast palace. It had lights but they were nothing as compared to the ones that used to illuminate its courtyard before. The wall where the Elephant fight used to take place has now been reduced to just a simple wall.The palace ground is no longer protected by senas ,the place which housed the animals has been changed to ticket counters.

Though much populated in the morning the Udaipur palace is as dead at night. The generations have passed,people has changed, the rule of monarchy has given its way to democracy yet the palace continues to live its time,the time when it was built.But at night it seems the palace cries on its own as it is now equivalent to a haunted house, the only remains of the kings,the sole symbol of its past.It is as if all the royals have left it alone to face the future India and endowed it with a responsibility to tell the stories of their achievements,culture,architecture,lifestyle.

The long courtyards where all the family members of the royals used to roam is now dark.The lanterns,the magnificent lights no longer glow at night.There are no distinction now between the rooms of the kings and queens.If something is left behind is only memories and some inanimate objects like chairs,tables,dresses etc.

And like the Udaipur palace many other historical forts and palaces have the same story.With the passage of time their roles changes too.Once providing shelter and protection to the royals they now entertain tourists and lead the life of the dead at night.They are then left alone to recollect their past,their glory,their pride.