news details |
|
|
| Time for Karan Singh to intervene and protect Dogra heritage | | Mubarak Mandi | | NEHA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 26: Mubarak Mandi for the Dogras is like Konarak; Elphanta, Ajanta and Alora Caves, India Gate, Red Fort, to mention only a few, are for the people of the country as a whole and, hence, the very idea of constructing a five Star hotel in the Mubarak Mandi complex is just outrageous. Can you think of constructing a hotel within the premises of Red Fort, where the Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose was tried for the simple reason that it had brought off a spectacular revolt against the British rule and achieve independence for India? You just can’t. Those who are thinking of constructing a Five Star hotel within the premises of the historic Mubarak Mandi are causing an affront to the self-respect of the Dogras, who played a unique role in the political history of India and accomplished no other community in the country could ever accomplish. The foundation of Jammu and Kashmir in March 1846 and the manner in which the great Dogra rulers extended the frontiers of their Kingdom to the highly strategic extreme North constitute just two of the several such instances that serve to demonstrate the unique role the Dogras played. Besides, those who are thinking of constructing a hotel within the premises of the Mubarak Mandi complex – complex built in the first decade of the 18 century by Raja Dhruvdev Singh – are, it appears, out to destroy the Dogra’s rich heritage for reasons best known to them.
It is strange that neither Dr Karan Singh nor his son Ajatshatru Singh has spoken a word against those out to construct a hotel within the Mubarak Mandi complex, the seat and centre of the Dogra civilization (in this case over 5000-year-old Indian civilization). Credit goes to the Jammu-based MLAs belonging to the BJP, Panthers Party and Jammu State Morcha who have risen to the occasion and vehemently opposed the controversial move. It is primarily because of their splendid role that the Government decided to put the proposal on hold the other day for leasing out of the residential palaces of royal families to leading hotel chains for its conservation, preservation, restoration and operation of Heritage Hotel at Mubarak Mandi pending its re-examination and final decision by Governing Body. It was vide GAD Order No 561 of 2008, dated 23-4-2008 that the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex (MMHC) was transferred to the MMHS. Chief Minister of the State is the chairman of the governing body of the MMHC and everyone is aware of his attitude towards the Dogra rulers.
It is also surprising that while the Jammu-based MLAs belonging to the BJP, the Panthers Party and the Jammu State Morcha took on Mustafa Kamal of the National Conference for his derogatory remarks against Hari Singh, neither Karan Singh nor his son, who is National Conference’s Member of the Legislative Council thought it prudent not to speak on the issue. Have they forgotten Hari Singh? Only they can answer this question.
Anyway, there are reasons to believe that certain vested interests who would see to it that part of the Mubarak Mandi complex is converted into a hotel. It is time for Dr Karan Singh to intervene and make the concerned authorities declare the complex as a protected monument. Let it be managed, conserved and preserved and restored to its pristine glory by the Archeological Survey of India. Karan Singh has connections at right places in Delhi. The Dogras expect him to play his role and not watch the destruction of the Dogra heritage as a mute spectator. The consensus in Jammu is that the GAD Order No 561 of 2008, dated 23-4-2008, must be withdrawn forthwith.’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
