Glocal #8 Thinking Global, Acting Local “The Taj Rule ™”
The Taj Mahal has been considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I felt my breath get short as my eyes continued on a journey down the reflecting pool to see white marble structure I had only read about my entire life.
The Taj Mahal is widely measured as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love. It is situated on the right bank of river Yamuna. Words fall short in trying to describe the feeling that is experienced with the beauty of the architecture. The building is actually a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan who was grief-stricken after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, his third wife. She died delivering their 14th child at the age of 39. The building was started in 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.
The Taj Mahal is the biggest attraction in India drawing between 2 million and 4 million visitors annually. I 
took this global experience and started thinking about the “building of love.” The Taj Mahal is a tribute to Sha Jahan’s wife and to God. The main structure of the Taj is square but has unique beveled corners so there are no sharp edges. I pondered the concept of beveling the edges to soften the concept of this building of love. I then started to compare the idea of rounding out the edges of any relationship to come from a higher level of communication based on love using the Taj Mahal concept as a guide. The idea can be used with local groups, communities, business and individuals. It is a global concept that can be applied locally to make a difference in our ever changing world. Simply stated it is "softening speech or communication" to work through issues in a loving manner with NO sharp edges.
The structure of the dome is designed as a replica of God’s throne in paradise, where the huge pearl dome stands supported by four corner pillars. The entrance gate of the Taj bears inscription of chapter 89 of the Quran. It is called “Al Fajra” or day break. The entire structure is decorated with designs of flowers. The cenotaphs are adorned with stone inlay called “pietra dura.” There are over 35 different types of precious and semi-precious stone from all over the world that have been used for the inlay work which enhances the message of love. Think about how the work to create this tribute of love took almost twenty-two years to complete. The idea of such a love is hard to process and has not been duplicated in a similar concept anywhere in the world.
Sixty-four gardens of sixteen flowerbeds with 400 plants each line the entry through the Charbagh garden which is a symbolic representation of “a garden of Paradise.” This beautiful entry frames the most outstanding construction of a building with perfect symmetry in the world.
No trip to India would be complete without having experienced the beauty of the Taj Mahal.
Take a journey of the slide show and think about those softened edges on the world’s most renowned building representing love. Think about easy it will be to take this global concept and apply it to local relationships and groups by simply “softening edges” in communication and sharing. Could we be “building relationships” with love and respect when “The Taj Rule™” is applied in our behavior? Simply rounding out the rough sharp edges can make a difference in actions when applying this “glocal rule.”
It has been said that discovering the secrets of the Taj is like discovering the different moods of a woman. The evening sheds a different look with the reflections of the fiery inlayed stones sparkling in the setting sun.
This timeless wonder of the Taj Mahal can now be a practical global concept that can make a difference in local experiences by applying “TheTaj Rule™ “ Building communities and relationships with love and softening the delivery of communication by taking away the “sharp” tones of criticism, judgment and condemnation. I will be listening for the giggles as readers process this concept and then apply it at a meeting. Thinking Global and Acting Local….. going glocal with "The Taj Rule™."
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