Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) held a meeting under the chairmanship of its President GS Charak.
Addressing the meeting, the President said that there has been a severe onslaught to obliterate the past glory of the Dogras, the Dogriyat and the strong secular fibre that binds all the communities and religions of the Dogra region. The prestigious historical heritage site at Mubarak Mandi has suffered colossal damage due to recent rains and the invaluable artifacts/heritage material is facing destruction.
The efforts of restoration and renovation were obstructed, delayed and funds allotted by Government of India lapsed, he said, adding that the valuable priceless old documents have been partially (some 35,000 files) shifted to Kala Kendra in an unsatisfactory arrangement, in unsafe conditions exposed to humidity, pollution and are near decaying. Rest of the 6 to 7 lakh files are also in bad care and unsafe kept in old perishing buildings. All these need to be shifted to the old Information Office building in the Mubarak Mandi Complex, he stated.
“The grand old Museum is also in bad shape and billions worth of exhibits have been/ and are perishing due to seepage, humidity and fungus which need to be immediately shifted in the recently renovated building of erstwhile Army Headquarter. Even the statue of the General Zorawar Singh at Zorawar Chowk has been mischievously defaced in spite of it being in a high security zone and CCTV coverage. A FIR has been lodged by DSS and immediate investigation is required to be vigorously perused”, he informed.
DSS has decided to take out a peaceful rally starting from Jambu Loachan statue on August 11 at 11 am, which will conclude at Mubarak Mandi, where they will hold a peaceful dharna bringing home the necessity of reversion of archives documents and housing them in the old information office building and shifting the rest of those lying in unsafe building of archives in the Mubarak Mandi also there and to highlight other issues including insult to the Dogra heroes like General Zorawar Singh.
Charak requested all political leaders, heads of religious, traders, commerce and all other social and other unions to shun personal agendas and urged one and all to join together for saving Dogras’ race from extinction.
Among others present were Major General Sunita Kapoor, Colonel Karan Singh Jamwal, Prem Sagar Gupta, Brigadier MS Jamwal, Colonel Dr Virendra K Sahi, Prof Anita Billawaria, Tarun Uppal, Pardeep Mahajan and Vikas Abrol.
Follow our WhatsApp channel