First published: 21/08/24.

Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

Sun Temple, Modhera

Sun Temple, Modhera (On tentative list)

Sun Temple, Modhera by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

While I did enjoy more than two hours in Modhera on the way to Rani-Ki-Vav from Amdavad back in 2019, I'm not sure if I am able to grasp what could possibly bring this forward to a successful inscription. The objective to represent Maru Gujarat (Maru-gurjara) style makes one wonder if all styles ought to be represented in the list. This would mean an almost unfathomable well of prospects for India's tentative list, but it does not mean that all of them have to be pursued, let alone all of them deserving. Some architectural movements are more major and central than others. In terms of it being a sun temple, the one in Konark is difficult to beat especially for the relative quality of the extant carvings. To argue that its western counterpart should also get recognized in equal footing is a bit going too far. The route to have a serial Surya temple inscription may even be more feasible by making this site (11th century), and even Martand (8th century) in Kashmir, an extension to the already-listed Konark (13th century). As precedence, India demonstrated this successfully with the Great Living Chola Temples and the Mountain Railways of India.

The nomination talks of the tank being the only one to exist among the three Surya temples mentioned in the comparative analysis. How far, however, does this really take the nomination forward? It is a distinct detail and debatably one of the best in Gujarat, but it cannot be overstated. Adding to the review below, "Adjoining Monuments" also appears to be a recent favorite replacement for describing proposed properties as "Complex" or "Group of Monuments," which India previously liberally utilized in most of its listed sites. Regionally, it appears that the state wishes to brand this as an architectural zenith in the region (there we go again, OUV?) hoping to highlight its position -- exaggeration is a well-known strategy in this process. However, Rani-Ki-Vav in my opinion not only ranks as the best in Gujarat, but even among the best India has to offer.

Overall, the problem that confronts India is that it has a lot of highly impressive temples, each could easily shine if they were located somewhere else without having to worry about being closely pitted against one another. The question is, which ones should eventually go in the list without compromising the chances of other well-deserved ones later on? Why doesn't Gujarat look at its princely palaces and villas instead? -- that is a Blue Ocean.

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