We were in Bhopal last weekend, running one of our Marketing Masterclass simulation sessions. With our flights scheduled in the evening, we managed a trip out to Sanchi on Sunday morning. The complex sits on a peaceful and meditative site atop a hill and is a magnificent symbol of an emperor’s message of peace. The Great Stupa, visible from the plains and railway line below, is clearly the showpiece of Sanchi - with an architectural legacy that is manifested even in the dome and balustrade of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
And that did trigger a thought…
What connects the Great Pyramid of Giza, Cologne Cathedral, Empire State Building, Petronas Towers and Burj Khalifa?
I am sure you’ve guessed it but they have all held the distinction of being the tallest structures in the world at some point. Interestingly, if we look at the chronology of the ‘race for the sky’, we’ve moved from civilisations to churches to the USA to banks to petroleum. So the tallest buildings are a clear reflection of the dominant power of the time - be it political, religious or economic. In fact, in 1930, 99 of the top 100 tallest structures in the world were in North America; while today, 60 of the top 100 are in Asia!
Of course, history has shown us that the tallest structures more often than not foreshadow a shift in power and a downturn in fortune. Yet Sanchi has not just survived a succession of empires but its art and architecture has in fact been nourished and embellished over 1300 years. A small inscription in the Archaeological Museum of Sanchi shines a light on this – Sanchi remained an integral part of the lay population’s lives and beliefs through the centuries, a testament to people power. Maybe, just maybe, there is a lesson in this for all of us…
