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| Dharmarth Trust outraging Hindus' sensitivities | | Jawalaji Shrine in Kashmir under attack of encroachment | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 2: Where is Dr Karan Singh, who controls the age-old Dharmarth Trust? Is he aware that the ancient Jawalaji Shrine in Kashmir is under attack? Everyone knows that attempts are being made by certain vested interests to grab the temple land, but it appears he is either sleeping or he is deliberately allowing certain vested interests to go ahead with their sinister designs. It is For Dr Karan Singh to clarify his position, stem the rot and ensure that nothing is done to outrage the religious sensitivities of the Hindus.
Where is this shrine and what is its importance? Popularly called Zaalaa Bagvatii, the Shrine of Mata Jawalaji at Khrew is one of the ancient Shrines of Kashmir. It is under the control and management of Dharmarth Trust. The Shrine is on top of a triangular hill overlooking the village to the North of Village Khrew. It is surrounded by a long hill-foot expance, the Parikrama. From the Eastern side, 350 stairs lead to Shrine, beginning in the Village. The land of Parikrama, the hill-top, stairs etc. are all the Shrine lands. A few ancient murtis stand at the beginning of steps. The Parikrama and Shrine-land is demarcated by these and other sacred rocks. The land, excluding the one under the cultivation and in possession of tenants is over 300 kanals. Below the Zaala Hill lies the village Khrew. On the Eastern side, beyond Parikrama, to the North of the footsteps lie the cultivated lands of the Shrine which are with tenants. In the North East, beyond cultivated lands lies Shamshaan bhumi.
About a couple of months back, sinister activities apparently aimed at doing away with the shrine lands particularly the Parikrama began at Khrew. The Dharmarth Trust issued an authority letter to its employee Ab. Rashid Durana to take away the muurtiis from their location towards the right of main stairs for 'safe-keeping'. The need for safe-keeping of murties after 20-years of militancy was the first alarm.
Soon the reasons became known. The Dharmarth Trust authorised one Manzoor Ahmad to negotiate giving away the shrine lands of Parikrama on 90-year lease.
It must be noted that the Zaalaa Hill is a rocky formation. Contractors may also be planning to quarry it for stone. There would be more and more quarries as the stone is in great demand. Once quarrying begins it would pose serious danger to the very Shrine.
It has also been reported that the owenership of the land has been changed to 'sarkar' (government property) from 'makbuuza ahli hanuud' (property of Hindu community) during the recent computerisation of the revenue records.
Altogether the whole operation is a serious threat to the ancient Shrine. It is a sinister design with clear ulterior motives. The result would be undermining one of the hoariest Shrines of Kashmir, which has alarmed all the Hindus within and outside the state. Already there are serious allegations that the Dharmarth Trust has done away with lands of 3 other temples under its managements in Srinagar city. The selling away of the shirne lands at Mata Jawalaji is the latest manipulation. Though the officials of the trust are trying to obfuscate the issue, the episode has alarmed the whole Hindu community. It demands very clear and quick action on the following points:
1. Dharmarth Trust should immediately withdraw the authorisation letters issued for the removal of murties and the clandestine negotiations/disposal of the Shrine lands.
2. The murties at the feet of stairs and other landmarks around Parikrama be restored.
3. The reported change in the revenue records of the Shrine lands, during the recent computerisation of the revenue records, be verified and the earlier position restored.
There should be no tampering in Kashmir with the Shrines and temple lands which are under the management of the Dharmarth Trust.
Will Dr Karan Singh intervene and restore this ancient shrine to its pristine glory? If he feels that he can rise to the occasion, then he should handover the shrine and the land attached to it to the Army. Even otherwise, it is because of the presence of the Army there that the Shrine is intact. |
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