That the Taj Mahal is white has been endorsed by history text books for decades. Reams of literature have paid ode to its regal white splendour. However, the decades starting from the 1980s have been seeing the white getting tainted bit by bit. With the setting up of the Mathura Refinery 50 kilometres away, the Taj Mahal began to develop a yellowish tinge.

Rapid industrialisation in the adjoining areas made things worse, and the colour turned from yellow to brown and green. Earlier this month, following concerns of the changing colours of the Taj expressed by the Supreme Court, Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma declared that a committee shall be formed to conduct a scientific study to assess the original colour of the Taj. However, the question remains that should the focus be on whether or not the Taj was white as opposed to thwarting its discolouration once and for all.