Of Monumental neglect & untold stories


Q. How many monuments and heritage sites are being actively maintained by The Archaeological Survey of India?

A: Over 6000 sites in all of India


Q. How many monuments and heritage sites have been identified in India ?
A. Over a million!!


From ASI's website:


National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities            
India has an extraordinarily rich, vast and diverse cultural heritage in the form of built heritage, archaeological sites and remains since prehistoric times.  The sheer magnitude in number alone is overwhelming and these are the symbols of both cultural expression and evolution. 


There now appears to prevail a fundamental lack of knowledge, understanding and, perhaps, interest in our past: in what constitutes the heritage of India, the process that governed its coming into being, and how this heritage relates to the people. Its manifestations expressed in cultural forms are losing their traditional essence in rapidly transforming lifestyles in an era of industrial growth. 


 There is, however, no comprehensive record in the form of database where such archaeological resources in terms of built heritage, sites and antiquities can be referred. As a result this finite, non-renewable and irreversible resource of our country is fast disappearing without any record for the posterity.  Therefore there is an urgent need for a proper survey of such resources, and based on that an appropriate archaeological heritage resource management and policy can be formulated.


In view of the above, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India made an announcement on Independence Day, 2003 for setting up of a National Mission on India's Tangible Heritage. Accordingly the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities was launched on 19th March 2007.

           
Time Frame and Scope             
              The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities proposes to launch its activities through out the country with independent functional strategy in each state and union territory.  It is envisaged that mandate of the Mission should be achieved within a stipulated time frame of five years i.e. 2007-2012.  


From an article in Indian Express:

Following instances of heritage structures going missing, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has started an initiative to document and list all heritage structures, protected as well as unprotected, across the country. The comprehensive national register in the form of an interactive website and also to be published as a book is expected to cover around 10 lakh monuments and heritage sites, many of which have gone unnoticed or neglected.


Good intentions are not enough...

Well, as I traveled through the Deccan region I came across dozens of heritage site and monuments lying in utter ruins. The locals did not seem to know the importance of these sites. Some were being used as cowsheds and open lavatories  The neglect and apathy was painful to behold.


Something drastic needs to be done by the government else there will be very little  left of these monuments for the future generations to see, appreciate and learn.


The ASI site has an exhaustive list of monuments and heritage sites that they are currently restoring or refurbishing.

I found a lot of works being carried out by ASI staff at Gabbur, and guess what? The ASI website doesn't even mention this site!!

So much for their thoroughness and efficiency.


Above photographs are from 2 different places in Raichur district:

1. Gabbur - an ancient Hindu learning center known as "Mini Hampi" due to the sheer number of temples (over 50), monuments and inscriptions that can be found there.

2. Devadurga - a medieval town with a ruined palace and a fort nearby. I couldn't find any other details about this place, like who built the palace and fort, or who ruled and for how long etc...

ASI might, in the distant future, succeed in cataloging the million and odd sites, but who will write the stories about them?
Location: Raichur, Karnataka, India

Comments

  1. Puru@ShadowsGaloreMarch 29, 2013 at 2:58 PM

    As id the neglect was not enough, the love birds and wannabe immortals have scribbled all over the walls of these buildings, disfigured ancient paintings and cause much greater mayhem than the ravages of time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. avalokMarch 29, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    Puru@shadowsgalore Yeah you are right. The defacement of heritage sites is a scourge in India. When will we learn to respect our heritage?

    ReplyDelete

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