As India readies itself for the biggest civil defense exercises since 1971 in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, an erstwhile wartime game plan is under the spotlight all over again that the one that envisioned the Taj Mahal ‘disappearing’
In December 1971, when Indo-Pak was at war, Indian cities went into alert. The threat to military installations alone was not believed that there was fear that the Pakistani air force could target India’s cultural sites as well.
One such location at risk was the Taj Mahal in Agra. As two Pakistani planes bombed the nearby Kheria Airbase, destroying the runway and causing panic, fears emerged that the legendary monument might serve as a landmark for enemy pilots to locate military bases. India wasn’t ready to take a chance.
How Taj Mahal was Hidden?
Responding to this, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook an unusual task cover the Taj Mahal with camouflage.
The sparkling white marble of the mausoleum was shrouded with gigantic green-dyed jute tarpaulins in order to mix with the surroundings of the Taj Mahal. The minarets themselves were shrouded as well, employing the twigs of trees and leaves. Sand was also used on the marble ground to minimize the shine. Light on the monument was also cut off, and visitors were avoided.
It took two days to wrap the Taj with the tarpaulin weighing more than 18,700 lbs (8,482 kg),” said Nathi Lal, a monument worker who was involved in the operation, in an interview with The Irish Times. “Over 598 kilograms of nails and 63 thick sewing needles were used to secure the cover,” he added.
The aim was very simple: to fool the enemy pilots and keep the astonishing beauty, heritage and pride of India intact. This camouflage remained in position for more than two weeks.
Other Monuments Also Covered
The Taj Mahal was not the only monument India preserved during the war. Heritage monuments such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Jaisalmer Fort were also protected. Dummy replicas were, in some instances, built close by to deceive enemy planes.
Interestingly, this was not a first. In World War II in 1942, British troops had constructed bamboo scaffolding around the Taj to present it as a pile of stores, fearing that German or Japanese bombers might attack it.
These low-tech means were surprisingly effective in a pre-satellite image and precision weapons era.
Mock Drills in 1971
Beyond camouflaging monuments, India had launched widespread civil defence drills to prepare citizens for war. Entire cities practiced blackout exercises, where people turned off lights to avoid becoming targets for aerial bombings.
Madhurendra Prasad Sinha, currently a journalist, was just a teenager then. He was living in Dumka, which was then in Bihar. He remembers the atmosphere: “There was never a moment of panic. We used to be told to switch off lights and take shelter under any table or chowki whenever the sound of sirens echoed.”
Blackout exercises would start as early as 6:30 pm. “By then, people were already home,” he said.
RK Sharma, a retired bureaucrat, recalled the rules with ease. “You had to cover the glasses with paper, and if you were outside and heard the siren, you were supposed to lie down on the floor and close your ears,” he informed Times Now.
Even offices and schools adapted. People were being sent home early, and children were being instructed on how to respond during air raids.
Nation Ready to Fight Again
Now, as tensions are once more running high along the Indo-Pak border, India is preparing to conduct another series of civil defence exercises, this time on an even bigger scale.
On Wednesday, there are rehearsals in 259 sites in 33 states and union territories. These involve the simulation of air raids, evacuation drills, and safety in bunkers. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) teams will be showing civilians the way.
However, the character of such practices has transformed over time.
“There are just so many servers, so many modes of communication nowadays,” Sinha said. “The most we will do for mock drills is to use stairs or exit a large building, such as a mall.”
