Sunny Dua
After having exhausted all measures to restore Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex to its lost glory, the Heritage Society looking after renovation and restoration work has finally decided to rope in Rajasthan Tourism for which a team comprising members of Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) very recently returned from their Pink City visit. The team it is believed had a firsthand look at already going on work on some important heritage sites in Rajasthan.
It’s been months since the team returned but not even a single member of that contingent has so far submitted any report or recommendations to chalk out future course of action. The end result is that remaining “Ruins of Royals” are fast turning into rubbles with no sight of restoration visible anywhere in the complex. Whatever work is being carried out is insufficient and incognito and is not at all going to raise these rubbles into the architect marvel, which is fast going into oblivion.
Instead of beginning restoration work from the worst crumbled areas already sound structures are on the mark. There is a portion where traces of old architect had vanished to the extent that authorities concerned are not even having any blueprint to carry out their restoration work. This way while the money is being drained out, actual purpose of restoration is also not being served. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) restoring a portion of Mubarak Mandi complex has also showed its reservation in not carrying restoration work beyond Rupees two crore in a year because of technical hitches.
The only way out is that work must not be stopped but the portion of Mubarak Mandi Complex which has been renovated or restored must be put into use so that it doesn’t give way. Complex that once housed Army Headquarters and then State High Court was restored but the art work has once again started to come out of the facade of the building. The ASI had restored artwork on dome but it has started peeling off. In fact Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in its final report had categorically suggested deciding on reuse of restored buildings before actually getting on to the next work.
Youvraj Vikramaditya Singh along with his son also visited these ruins and it is hoped that he will coordinate with concerned agencies to restore the lost glory of this complex where his ancestors ruled once. His visit might have been an emotional journey down the line but how it would transform the Prince Royale so that he gets down to the real business only time will tell.
It was also on cards that restored Army Headquarter would be used as Convention Centre but due to lack of many facilities the proposal could not take off. The situation today is that restored portion is getting damaged again. The fault lies with MMJHS which took over the possession of building without any facilities added to it. Now after over two years Khatambandi work is being done in this complex. This means that earlier work was done half heartedly.
As on today a major portion of this complex has already caved in and another one declared out of bounds, leaving it to the mercy of weather. Any further delay will not only damage the property but will also wipe out the impressions and remnants that would be required to restore the building for future generations. Its only recently that a crumbled portion has been taken up for restoration but since majority of wall paintings, frescos, brick works, floorings, Khatamband and other details have vanished from there its almost impossible to restore the building to that glory now.
With major thrust being laid on civil works there seems to be little chances of anything re-emerging out of this rubble. In the end people of this state would most likely get a new and renovated complex and not the restored one. This is nothing but a vandalistic approach due to which every heritage sight in Jammu and Kashmir State is crumbling like a pack of cards, Bahu Fort being the latest in the series.
Major portion of the fort had caved in last year but it has not been restored yet. Main entrance of Mubarak Mandi complex too had collapsed but its only after a year that it has been reconstructed. Similarly a portion of Shri Ranbhir Higher Secondary High School had also collapsed during rains but the same has not been restored till date. There were few more such heritage sites in the city that now cease to exist. Quarters at Doctors’ lane were part of heritage which stand razed to ground, a circular complex inside Radio Station has also been demolished, the places where government quarters have come up in Panjtirthi and Kachi Chawni used to house stables for keeping erstwhile Maharaja’s elephants and horses and most importantly Shri Ranbir Memorial Higher Secondary School has shrunk after carving a college, a library and a sports complex out of it.
As if this much vandalism of heritage was not enough, the government now intends to shift this school and convert it into a parking lot. A proposal with this regard stand incorporated in Jammu’s Master Plan. The construction of circular road on Tawi side along the Mubarak Mandi Complex is also posing grave threat to already crumbling Mubarak Mandi.
Some structures located on the down slope sides of hill continue to perish with each passing monsoon season. Most regrettably, an old and aesthetic architecture at Hari Niwas Palace owned by descendent of Maharaja Gulab Singh’s family has also been reconstructed after doing away with old architecture. To sum up, one can with affirmation say that there is no one who could claim to be a saviour of heritage in our state.
Those who once owned these places too have turned a Nelson’s eye toward these monuments of historic importance. Likewise there were many temples constructed during the regime of Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Hari Singh but they too are facing rough weather because of apathy of the government as well as people. There is a need for a vibrant heritage committee in the state and special financial assistance to save these monuments from getting razed to the ground.
Regrettably, the fate of other heritage sites in Kashmir as well as in Ladakh is also not that good at all. A move to save our heritage needs to be launched vigorously all over the state. To begin with artifacts and arms of erstwhile Maharajas are also rotting in stores must be displayed and maintained properly. The entire material dumped in Toshakhana should be displayed in newly restored areas for public viewing.
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