Bijay Charak
Jammu, Feb 11: The tall claim of state government of promoting tourism in state are falling flat as the ancient historic Gumat Gate, which was constructed centuries back by Dogra rulers, is loosing its sheen, due to negligent attitude of district administration Jammu and Heritage society, supposedly constituted for preservation of Mubarak Mandi complex.
The historic Gummat gate was, once, among the five entrances to Dogra's last ruler Maharaja Hari Singh's secretariat, known as Mubarak Mandi. Century back, it was used by Maharaja and his executives and common masses to visit Maharaja's secretariat.
Long grown "Peeple tree" and some other trees which have virtually surrounded the three dombs, broken bricks, grown weeds speaks the ramshackle condition of gate, which instead of attracting the tourists, never becomes even a symbol of attraction for even Jammuites.
Inder Singh, who is running a shop in Gummat market says that they heard from their ancestors, that it was the only path to Mubark Mandi from west side of Jammu. Years back some people, who had acquaintance about the gate, visited here to see the gate, while also used to click photographs, but with passage of time, their number now reached to negligible mark, he added. "Since my childhood, I am visiting here as my father was a vendor, and he used to sell articles here.
For the last 50 years, I have seen the degradation and worsening of this historic spot but nobody cares about it" he opined.
Another vendor, Subash Chander said that the domes fixed on top of the gate were stolen around one decade back. "None care about stealing of domes, and presently one portion of structure has been collapsed. Many leaders came and made fake promises, assuring renovation work, but everything remain unturned so far" he said, adding that if callous attitude of government and Heritage society would remain as it was, the building would get destroyed, as many other historic structures. |
