Could heritage of Chenani be saved?

In recurring piece meals, we try to focus on lost, neglected, scattered and forlorn symbols of our great heritage trying to highlight their historical importance and proximity to our peculiar splendid culture , the building techniques, paintings in particular mural and carvings on rocks and stones and the like. If along with describing the historicity of such heritage, we do not lay peculiar and special emphasis on their present condition and they being found wanting in getting attention from the government and various agencies in respect of repairing and restoring them the original sheen and look, we would be doing only half the work. One of such splendid but greatly neglected heritage is that of Chenani. Chenani is the gateway to many a famous and important shrine namely Sudhmahadev, Gourikind and Mantalai. It is a small municipality which was ruled by Rajputs who basically hailed from Bilaspur adjoining Himachal Pradesh.
We may, in this era of democratic set up, freedom and equality guaranteed by the constitution and peoples’ Government, look at monarchy with something of a dislike or disapproval but history is like that , however, these rulers had a fascination towards leaving something behind for the next and coming generations not only as a feast for our eyes but to feel somewhat bewildered at how they constructed palaces, forts, temples and promoted art and literature in varied ways. That all in whatever form available is our proud rich cultural and historical heritage bestowing a glory on our past . If we could not protect and preserve such legacy and heritage and instead thought how to alter them and raise structures of commercial interest , then surely future historians would record such sorry state of affairs in extreme narration .
We very often keep on blaming successive governments for not doing enough in preserving such heritage like the one under reference at Chenani but how many NGOs and social and cultural organisations feel and look concerned about the same. That questions our levels of emotive feelings towards preservation of these symbols of heritage. Just arrange some events in and around such places , get political leaders , government top bureaucrats , general people there , get media and other interested agencies , these symbols shall get a sort of varied introduction and verily, the focus and attention of the government towards the need of preserving such heritage. We must acquaint our younger generation with, for example in the instant case, how Raja of Chenani with absolute limited resources managed to build Grand Shiv Temples of fascinating style at Sudhmahadev, Udhampur and Purmandal . The ancient temple of Jalandhra Mata near Kotli Fort in Udhampur is on the verge of collapse . Has anyone of us raised our voice in strongest manner as to why despite having been declared as a protected monument , this Mandir has not seen a single Rupee been spent on its repairs and preservation. We often raise voices and conduct protests etc for various issues but perhaps care little about our glorious past .
Let us look at most of these heritage symbols from the point of view of tourist importance . Naina Devi Mandir in Mantalai is situated at a picturesque location, beautiful troves of trees around could become a leading tourist attraction but looking to its condition , one would only wonder as to why small intermittent renovations and repairs could not be carried out here to save it from succumbing to the whacks of fast passing time . Let our Jammu Tourist Map be profoundly dotted with the other famous temples of Chenani like the ones at Gouri Kund , Gau- Karan, Mantalai, Benisang, Mandir – Dushala , Haridwar, Buda Kedarnath etc. With a little of investment, these sacred ancient places could be developed into major religious tourism centres . Modern day rulers do not and perhaps cannot, very unfortunately , muster courage to build a single temple to remain a symbol of heritage for future generations because of various reasons mainly political but who prevents us at least to preserve the built ones by the likes of Raja of Chenani ?

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