Srinagar having 5000 years of history behind, is one of theoldest cities of the world and also known as the heritage city of India. Allahhad bestowed our valley with treasure of fresh water lakes and scenic beauty.The Mughals have built many gardens in Srinagar which are still a greatattraction for tourists. But it is unfortunate that with the advent of publicrule after 1947 we failed to maintain and preserve our heritage sites andhistorical monuments which otherwise could have become a great source forpromotion of tourism industry. We have ruthlessly destroyed our rich forests,wetlands, lakes and encroached upon the river banks, irrigation canals and evenstreams. We have not even spared the heritage sites and monuments. Despitehaving full-fledged state department of archives and archaeology, the valuablehistorical remnants and art facts of these sites have vanished. The authorityI/C of state museum had not till recently even bothered to digitize thehistorical arti-facts and other items lying on their stock, with the resultmany of the antiques of historical importance have been misplaced. Recently thenews regarding vandalism of the ancient site and remains of Buzahom madeheadlines of Greater Kashmir and other news papers.
Actually Muhammad Shafi Pandit along with Salem Beg andProf. Saif-u-din Soz had visited the site some time back and seen themselvesthe damage caused to the site and remains of this historical place. The site islocated on a plateau about 16 kms north east of Srinagar. It were Terre andPaterson who first noticed Megalithic Menhirs in the year 1939 duringexcavation. But it was actually T.N. Khazanchi, then SuperintendentArchaeologist of ASI who brought to light a four fold sequence of culture likeNeolithic period 1&2, Megalithic and early historical cultures of thepeople of this ancient city during extensive excavation from 1960 to 1971. Thecontribution made by T.N. Khazanchi is worth appreciating. M Shafi Pandit apioneer IAS officer of J&K state and presently Chairman of GCC who was verymuch concerned after visiting the site, took personal pains to bring thisvandalism to fore. It was on his open letter published in GK which attractedattention of all and particularly the Honb’le High court of state who treatedhis letter as PIL.
It is not only the ancient site of Burzahom but otherhistorical heritage sites and monuments which need the full attention of theconcerned department of J&K state and Archaeological Survey of India topreserve and protect these from further damage, encroachment and neglect. Morethan 50+ archaeological sites across Kashmir valley are reportedly indilapidated condition after these were abandoned by ASI when insurgency startedmore than 29 years ago. The ASI Srinagar circle headquarters was shifted toJammu along with 90% of its staff and have not returned to its original placeie Srinagar. Since then, the centrally-protected monuments in the valley havebeen left unattended and with no renovation or repairs taking place at most ofthese sites as is required under the relevant provisions of law, with theresult many of these sites are crumbling. The few among other prominenthistorical monuments and sites which are decaying due to neglect of concernedagency/ department, include Sun Temple Martand (Ranbirpura. Anantnag), AkhundMullah Mosque ( at foot hills of Hariprabat/ Khoimaran), Ancient Monastery- AStupa, Harwan, Shankara gaurishvara temple and Sugandhesa temple at patanBaramulla, famous for lord Shiva. Ancient temples at, Buniyar, Ladhuv andFatahgarh. Sun temple Martand has been declared by ASI as the site of nationalimportance in J&K. Martand temple is second only to Konark in itssignificance as Sun temple —is a marvellous testament to its architecturalachievement of Kashmir’s ancient KarKota dynasty. It lies forgotten and inshambles is only 8 kms from Anantnag. Nothing has been done to develop thedestination as a place of tourism pilgrimage.
However little efforts have been made by the government todevelop the site, with few facilities for tourists.
Akhund Mullah mosque situated at the foot hills ofHariprabat built by Mughal prince Dara Shiko in honour of his tutor MullahAkhund Shah in 1649 AD has fallen prey to neglect by ASI. The mosque built ofgrey lime stone and its lotus over the pulpit bring the only example of itskind surviving in Kashmir is in shambles. The ASI can only salvage it frombeing ruined completely. Crumbling Great Wall of Kashmir (Kalai) has beenencroached upon under the patronage of politicians for few vote bank politicsand even the stones of this wall have been used as construction material by the encroachers. Similarly thepolitical expediency took precedence over the well-being of the monument inrespect of Pather Masjid Wall.
Kashmir has many historical and religious sites besidesmonuments of national and global importance. It can attract millions ofnational as well as foreign tourists who have interest in visiting historicalsites and monuments. Besides developing valley as a adventure tourist place, itcan also become the centre of pilgrimage tourism. Martand, Mattan, Pattan andBurzahom can be the sites for researchers and discovery of multiple purposes.
In case the heritage sites and monuments are to be preservedand protected, the government needs to shift the Srinagar circle office of ASIalong with staff from Jammu to its original place in Srinagar without anyfurther delay. The ASI can establish branch office of Srinagar circle in Jammuto look after the heritage sites and monuments falling in Jammu province. Thestate archives and archaeology department must also feel their responsibilityin protecting these heritage sites. The members of civil society have also to riseto the occasion and voice their concern about the vandalism of these historicaland heritage sites.
(Abdul Rashid Khan isformer IGP)