So many people here were calling us mad for criticizing the Ram Mandir pillar photo that was posted. Many people correctly highlighted that not only the carved pillar not extraordinary, but seemed to use a lot of Islamic motifs and seemed like the makers were trying to copy the Taj Mahal.

We were told we are useless characters because we always have a problem with everything and that we were making stuff up. Now here is video proof. Not only Ram Mandir is using the exact same marble that was used in Taj, they are using Muslim carvers too (whose expertise IS Indo-Islamic art and motifs).

Now before you start calling criticisms invalid, learn to inform yourself on the subject. There is a clear and marked difference between Hindu art and Islamic art, even when it comes from the same region and the difference is rooted in the respective philosophies.

For eg, if you buy an authentic Kalamkari saree, the motifs and the designs used can very easily tell you whether it was made by a Hindu artist or Muslim one based on what they draw. Hindu art would include folk stories, animals, Gods and Pauranic stories. Islamic art would lean very heavily on leaf/flower patterns, paisleys etc.

Now this is usually not a problem if you are buying a saree. Its completely up to you and your choice which artist you support or which type of motif you like.

BUT it is a huge problem if you start copying the architecture and designs of a Islamic mausoleum to build, arguably, one of the most important Hindu temple in North India. This is such a crying shame because constructing a temple this size is a huge economic boost. Stone carving as per Hindu motifs are a dying art. So many artists and sthapatis could have gotten a new lease of life if they had been given this opportunity instead. Most of these artists are of lower castes by the way and they would have thrived had the temple contract been given to them. Instead we are copying an eyesore.

Imagine our ancestors fought for 500 years to reclaim our temple from the violence of Islamist marauders that razed it to the ground. And today, we, the progeny are so deracinated that we are building the temple with the copied art brought by the same marauders instead of encouraging our own dying arts.

Not to mention that marble is utterly unsuited for a temple in a land where the sun shines directly overhead because it literally will burn your feet but hey, I must be mad because we should just act like mindless morons busy with TikToks rather than critically question anything.

Unmitigated disaster all around.