Calls for preserving Dogra heritage
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Former Sadar-i-Riyasat, Dr Karan Singh has urged Governor Satya Pal Malik to call all files connected with Mubarak Mandi and see what can be done to preserve this important part of rich Dogra heritage, which, he said, is crumbling before our eyes.
Describing condition of the Mubarak Mandi complex as “deteriorating”, Dr Karan Singh asserted that more buildings are on the verge of collapse.
Dr Karan Singh, a former Union Minister and Congress leader, has voiced his concerns over condition of Mubarak Mandi complex in a letter written to the Governor today.
Dr Karan Singh said only last week yet another portion of the historic Mubarak Mandi complex has collapsed.
“This huge palace complex was handed over to the State Government by Maharaja Hari Singh during his own rulership. For some years, it was used as a Secretariat but after 1947, it gradually fell into misuse and because of lack of maintenance, parts of the complex started collapsing,” Dr Singh said in his letter to the Governor, a copy of which has been released to the media.
Noting that some years back, the INTACH was commissioned to renovate these buildings, he regretted that for some reasons, the process was discontinued.
“An organization called the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society was formed and the Archaeological Survey of India was also involved but despite these measures, the situation continued to deteriorate and more buildings are on the verge of collapse,” Dr Karan Singh wrote.
He said one building has been restored, which was supposed to have become the ‘Jammu Museum’ but it still remain vacant and its condition has also started deteriorating.
“I would urge you to kindly call for all the files connected with Mubarak Mandi and see what can be done to preserve this important part of the rich Dogra heritage, which is crumbling before our eyes,” Dr Karan Singh said.
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