Welcome to JohnDas FunDas & Ideas

New 7 wonders results declared in Lisbon, Portugal on 7/7/7

The New7Wonders organization is happy to announce the following 7 candidates have been elected to represent global heritage throughout history.
Chichén Itzá, Mexico	Christ Redeemer, Brazil	The Great Wall, China	Machu Picchu, Peru
Petra, Jordan	The Roman Colloseum, Italy	The Taj Mahal, India

A R Rahman composes Taj Anthem to inspire Indians (and all lovers passionate about the Tahj) to vote for the Taz Mahal

The Taj Mahal, tomb of Mumtaz Mahal built by her widowed husband (not actually widowed – he had several other wives though he loved Mumtaz the most) who wanted to build a tomb for his favourite wife and love of his life that the world had never seen before and would never see again.

A R Rahman composed this Taj Anthem to inspire Indians (and all lovers passionate about the Tahj) to vote for the Taz Mahal .

The audio version is available as an mp3 file here :

Taj Anthem audio track download mp3

The video is here at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP-YhQPnuNI

The Taj Mahal, tomb of Mumtaz Mahal built by her widowed husband (not actually widowed – he had several other wives though he loved Mumtaz the most) who wanted to build a tomb for his favourite wife and love of his life that the world had never seen before and would never see again.

A R Rahman composed this Taj Anthem to inspire Indians (and all lovers passionate about the Tahj) to vote for the Taz Mahal .

The audio version is available as an mp3 file here :

Taj Anthem audio track download mp3

The video is here at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP-YhQPnuNI

Once upon a time, in a mystical land called India, a mughal emperor called Shah Jahan lived with his beloved beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Shahbuddin Mohammed Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan. Persian: شاه ‌جهان), January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian Subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning “King of the World.” He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir.

The Mugal King did not marry his queen just for her beauty. She was intelligent and clever too. A smart choice by the king who had other wives too, most of them who were just “dumb gals”. There was no insurance that their wedding would last – after all, he was Emperor of India. For kings like these marriages were just another entertainment. No favours could be expected just by the wedding ring on her finger.

But the bond was strong – the love and passion was stronger than what we see in today’s films.

Mumtāz Mahal (Persian: ممتاز محل; pronunciation /mumtɑːz mÉ›hÉ›l/; meaning “beloved ornament of the palace”) is the common nickname of Arjumand Banu Begum, who was born in April, 1593 in Agra, India. Her father was the Persian noble Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan, the brother of Nur Jehan who subsequently became the wife of the emperor Jahangir, and she was religiously a Muslim. She was married at the age of 19, on May 10, 1612, to Prince Khurram, who would later ascend the Peacock Throne as Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I. She was his second wife, and became his favorite. She died on June 17, 1631 in Burhanpur in the Deccan (now in Madhya Pradesh) during the birth of her fourteenth child, a daughter named Gauhara Begum. Her body was buried in the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Here is a list of Shah Jahan’s wives :

• Akbarabadi Mahal (d.1677)
• Kandahari Mahal (b. 1594, m.1609)
• Mumtaz Mahal (b.1593, m.1612, d.1631)
• Hasina Begum Sahiba (m.1617)
• Muti Begum Sahiba
• Qudsia Begum Sahiba
• Fatehpuri Mahal Sahiba (d. after 1666)
• Sarhindi Begum Sahiba (d. after 1650)
• Shri Manbhavathi Baiji Lall Sahiba (m. 1626)
• Lilavati Baiji Lall Sahiba (m. before 1627)

Not much is known about her except that she was a woman of legendary beauty and virtue, who had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan’s trusted companion, travelling with him all over the Mughal empire. He trusted her so far that he even gave her his imperial seal, the Muhr Uzah. She was a big influence on him, apparently often intervening on behalf of the poor and destitute. But she also enjoyed watching elephant and combat fights performed for the court.

Together they had fourteen children, seven of whom died at birth or at a very young age.

• Shahzadi Jahanara Begum (Imperial Princess) (April 2, 1614 – September 16, 1681)
• Shahzadi Huralnissa Begum (March 30, 1613 – June 14, 1616)
• Shahzada (Imperial Prince) Dara Shikoh (March 30, 1615 – September 8, 1659 in the succession wars at the hands of his brother Aurangzeb)
• Shahzada Mohammed Sultan Shah Shuja Bahadur (July 3, 1616 – 1660)
• Shahzadi Roshanara Begum (September 3, 1617 – 1671)
• Badshah (Emperor) Mohinnudin Mohammed Aurangzeb (November 3, 1618 – February 21, 1707)
• Shahzada Sultan Ummid Baksh (December 18, 1619 – March 1622}
• Shahzadi Surayya Banu Begum (June 10, 1621 – April 28, 1628)
• Shahzada Sultan Murad Baksh (September 8, 1624 – December 14, 1661)
• Shahzada Sultan Luftallah (November 4, 1626 – May 14, 1628)
• Shahzada Sultan Daulat Afza (May 9, 1628 – ?)
• Shahzadi Husnara Begum (April 23, 1630 – ?)
• Shahzadi Gauhara Begum (June 17, 1631 – 1706)

Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth, while accompanying Shah Jahan during a war campaign against the Lodi lords in the Deccan. Legend has it that on her deathbed, her last wish to the emperor was for a symbol or a monument to their love. She also asked her husband not to marry anyone. Inconsolable, the emperor promised immediately. Apparently after her death, Shah Jahan went into secluded mourning for a year. When he appeared again his hair had turned white, his back was bent and his face worn. He kept his promise and built her tomb, the Taj Mahal, in Agra. It took more than 20 years to finish it. Today, it stands as the ultimate monument to love, and an homage to her beauty and life.

Now, a new list of seven wonders is being created – and the Taj Mahal is not in the top 7 !

Only you can bring the Tahj – the monument of love and passion – a dying queen’s last wish – back to the list. By the power vested in you as a citizen of the free world, vote for the Taj Mahal !

Go to Bernard Weber’s new7wonders.com and vote here !

Results of vote June 6th
1.The Acropolis———–> Greece
2.Mayan ruinsat chichen Itza———->Mexico
3.The colloseum———>France
4.Eiffel tower———>France
5.The Great Wall———>China
6.Machu Pichchu——–>Peru
7.Petra——->Jordan
8.Statue of Easter Island——–>Chile
9.State Of christ Redeemer——–>Brazil
10.taj mahal——–>India

May 7, 2007. Source: New7Wonders Ranking

Top 10, alphabetically:

1. Acropolis, Athens, Greece (450 – 330 B.C.) Civilization and Democracy

2. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge

3. Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 – 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering

4. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (1887 – 89) Challenge and Progress

5. Great Wall, China (220 BC and 1368-1644 AD) Perseverance&Persistence

6. Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication

7. Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection

8. Statues of Easter Island, Chile (10th – 16th Century) Mystery and Awe

9. Stonehenge, Amesbury, UK(3000 BC – 1600 BC) Intrigue and Endurance

10. Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion

Bottom 10, alphabetically:

1. Alhambra, Granada, Spain (12th century) Dignity and Dialog

2. Angkor, Cambodia (12th century) Beauty and Sanctity

3. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey (532 – 537 A.D.) Faith and Respect

4. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan (749 – 1855) Clarity and Serenity

5. Kremlin/St.Basil’s, Moscow, Russia (1156 – 1850) Fortitude and Symbolism

6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany (1869 -1884) Fantasy and Imagination

7. Statue of Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness

8. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA (1886) Generosity and Hope

9. Sydney Opera House, Australia (1954 – 73) Abstraction and Creativity

10. Timbuktu, Mali (12th century) Intellect and Mysticism

So, vote for the Taj Mahal , and some wonders from the absolute bottom of the list and top 2 or 3 ranks also. This will make sure that the Taj will get a place atleast in 6th position (only 6 positions can be voted as one position is reserved for the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt)

Indian Music Director – Composer A R Rahman composed a Taj Anthem called “One Love – Ek Mohhabat” which you can download here

Vote by entering your email address twice and choosing exactly 7 wonders from the list including Taj Mahal and submit. Then open your email and click the link they send. Next, confirm the choices and finish voting. You need separate email addresses if you want to vote online again.

Vote multiple times without much effort…

Read more…