Artists make folding Taj Mahal replica in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: A group of artisans from Dholka block here have built a folding 51-feet high replica of the world-famous monument Taj Mahal to bring the magical experience of witnessing this architectural wonder in Gujarat itself.

Spread over 5,000 sq ft area, the replica has been erected behind the Dholka railway station near the artists' workshop and has folding components which would enable the structure to be moved to different locations. Over 20 tonnes of iron and 34,000 sq ft of wood and plywood have been used to make it.

In 2004, we had made a Taj Mahal out of thermocol which was highly appreciated by the people. The Governor of Gujarat had come to see the structure," team leader of the group of 54 artisans Ishtiyaq Ali said.

"After the thermocol structure, there was overwhelming response from people who asked us to built a Taj Mahal replica that they could touch and feel just like the original one in Agra. So we decided to make a structure where one can walk through, touch the walls adorned with intricate designs," he said.

Ali said that they began building the Taj Mahal with help of iron, wood and PVC material two years ago. "We used iron and wood because we wanted a structure which could be dismantled and transported to other location," he added.

According to Ali, he and other members of his group had visited Taj Mahal in Agra seven times and photographed the monument from different angles, its various components and designs on the walls, which they used in building the structure.

LOKESHTHE CUTE

The world’s first artificial leaf ‘created’

                   Scientists have created the world’s first practical artificial leaf that can turn sunlight and water into energy, which they claim could pave the way for a cheaper source of power in developing countries like India.

                      A team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that the artificial leaf from silicon, electronics and various catalysts which spur chemical reactions within the device, can use sunlight to break water into hydrogen and oxygen which can then be used to create electricity in a separate fuel cell.

                        “A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We believe we have done it. And placed in a gallon of water and left in sun, these artificial leaves could provide a home in the developing world with basic electricity for a day,” Daniel Nocera, who led the team, said.

                       He added: “Our goal is to make each home its own power station. One can envision villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology.”

                        For their research, the scientists identified a set of inexpensive, common catalysts including nickel and cobalt that get the job done with far less expense. And, in the laboratory their playing-card-sized leaves have worked continuously for 45 straight hours without a drop in output.

                     Though in laboratory, an artificial leaf prototype could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity, the scientists say that they will next try to boost both efficiency and lifespan of their photosynthetic material.

                   The findings were presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.