The Lost Legacy

Archana Razdan Chibb
Vibrant landscapes , beautiful temples ,panoramic views, diversified culture and heritage is what the state of J&K in general and the Jammu province , in particular, boasts of . Valiant rulers of the land have contributed a lot to preserve this treasure , which resulted into the construction of forts and palaces , dotting the city till date , standing undauntedly , bearing the adversities of weather, from times immemorial . A shining feather in the crown of Jammu , lies unsung , unnoticed and deprived of attention, which could otherwise contribute to the glory, pride and decorum of the state, which if conserved, would prove to be an important contributor to the state’s economy, related to tourism. This is the beautiful fort complex at JASROTA, the ruins of which have been struggling hard, for the last one and a half centuries, to provide a glimpse of its glorious past to the onlooker.
Jasrota is located in the Shivalik hills of the western Himalayas, on the banks of Ujh river in Kathua district, about 60 Kms. from the city of Jammu .The fort is constructed on a plateau, the river providing a natural safeguard on one side and probably the water of the river ensuring water supply during peace time. It now forms a part of the Jasrota wildlife sanctuary.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
King Jasdev who ruled Jammu in the 12th century founded the city of Jasrota dedicated to him and gifted it to his uncle King Karandev as a separate state and his successors, in turn, came to be recognized as Jasrota Rajputs, popularly called Jasrotias.Different rulers added palaces, baradaris ,temples, water tanks , etc. during their reign .But this development increased phenomenally when it was gifted as a jagir to Raja Hira Singh who proved to be the game changer in leaving an indelible mark on the art and architecture of the fort .
Though Jasrota was founded by Raja Jasdev (1020-1053) and Raja Karandev being the founder of the Jasrotia family , the first record of its existence is found in Ma’asir-ul-Umara and Akbarnama , as in 1594, one of the rulers of the clan, Raja Bhivu Dev rebelled against the Mughal emperor Akbar .
TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT: As there is not much on record, about this majestic fort, two schools of thought prevail:
* In 1834 sikh monarch Maharaja Ranjit Singh gifted it as a jagir to Raja Hira Singh son of Dhiyan Singh , the Dogra Prime Minister of Lahore and nephew of Maharaja Gulab Singh , who developed it as a fortified town .But in 1845 , the fort was razed by the Sikh Khalsa Army and abandoned thereafter.
* After having ruled for 817 years by Dev rulers , during the Sikh rule in Punjab , Raja Bhuri Singh , alongwith the King of Bhadwan , Raja Avtar Singh , waged a war against the Sikhs , only to be defeated , owing to inadequate army .Jasrota then came under the ownership of Lahore Darbar and was gifted to Raja Dhiyan Singh, son of Hira Singh whereas Raja Bhuri Singh was settled in Khanpur Basti nearby , after being awarded pension.
King Jasdev who ruled Jammu in the 12th century founded the city of Jasrota dedicated to him and gifted it to his uncle King Karandev as a separate state and his successors, in turn, came to be recognized as Jasrota Rajputs, popularly called Jasrotias.Different rulers added palaces, baradaris ,temples, water tanks , etc. during their reign .But this development increased phenomenally when it was gifted as a jagir to Raja Hira Singh who proved to be the game changer in leaving an indelible mark on the art and architecture of the fort .
Though Jasrota was founded by Raja Jasdev (1020-1053) and Raja Karandev being the founder of the Jasrotia family, the first record of its existence is found in Ma’asir-ul-Umara and Akbarnama , as in 1594, one of the rulers of the clan, Raja Bhivu Dev rebelled against the Mughal emperor Akbar.
ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Various rulers went on adding palatial buildings , etc. so that the settlement flourished manifold but the contribution of Raja Hira Singh towards the art and architecture of the fort is exemplary.He was fond of the city of Jammu owing to which he named various locations and buildings according to those already prevalent in Jammu.The path leading to Ujh river on which ghats and shrines were abutting was name as Panjtirthi.The gardens in the vicinity of the plateau was named Rajbagh or the King’s Garden , which stands till date . The first gate where from the ascent starts is the Dilli Darwaza .The next gate which opens out into a complex of palaces , large water tanks , shrines , baradaris and bazaars is called as the Gumat Darwaza.
As we enter the Gumat Darwaza we feel awestruck to find double storeyed palaces with a courtyard in front known as Raje Di Mandi.
A majestic staircase leads to the podium above which overlooks big reservoir of water , which was probably for the royalty to cool during the hot summers. Steps leading to the level of water were decorated with the help of two flower base like structures on both sides forming a multi petaloid lotus .It was built in a way that rainwater trickled in the form of small streams to gather in the tank.A smaller reservoir nearby was used for drinking purposes. The palaces have multifoil arches for door openings and a series of arches for free movement of air. They are joined by a lavish chamber of large dimensions perhaps for the persons , in attendance , of the royalty .The stairs bridging the two storeys are still there.Raja Hira Singh brought the masons from Punjab and also a carvan of artists to construct and decorate the interiors and the exteriors of the palaces ,respectively.However the local masons and artists assisted the master painters and masons. The walls of the palaces where, once, decorated with paintings done in shining colours , the remains of which are still , faintly visible , there in the form of fading floral twiners , bordering these paintings .Jasrota was a centre of Dogra school of paintings popularly known as Jammu school of paintings.
The remains of the floral patterns are clearly visible in the soffits of the arches in the palaces.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The plateau is rich in flora and fauna with a myriad of trees , flowers and endless greenery which is home to many species of wildlife ,the monkeys dominating the Jungle. Some of the old Banyan trees have stood the test of time and witnessed the journey of Jasrota , since ages.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
The state government initiated the restoration of the fort and handed it over to the Department of Horticulture , PHE and the Deptt. Of Museums and Archives but nothing much could be achieved .Lately the Forest Deptt. , Deptt. Of Wildlife and the Rural Development Deptt. have joined hands to give the whole area a face lift , by virtue of which , a kutcha motorable path has been laid together with renovating the steps , which used to lead to the palace complex through bazaars and shrines enroute.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Inspite of the development procedure undertaken , the desired results are yet to be achieved .The agencies involved don’t seem to follow a set methodology and conservational techniques to revive the lost glory and aura of the fort.The renovation, though on a small scale, is being carried out using contemporary materials , contradicting with the character of the monument .This is probably due to the non- handing over of the fort to the Archaeological Survey of India who hold the expertise to restore the sheen of the monuments.
CONCLUSION
The conclusion derived after conducting the research has been summarized as follows:
* The Jasrota fort should be handed over to the ASI for its restoration and conservation , so that they carry forward the legacy and reinvent the whole complex , restoring its original grandeur and grace , by using the indigenous materials of those times.
* It can , then be developed as a major tourist attraction , by roping into the tourist circuit of Jammu , by recreating the bygone era by hosting light and sound shows , live concerts , and fairs ,etc. to bring the glorious past of our ancestors into the limelight , leading to revenue generation , as an obvious consequence , on the pattern of other cities of India, who highlight even the minutest detail of their heritage. John Henrik Clarke ,an eminent writer has very rightly said , “A people’s relationship to their heritage is same as the relationship of a child to its mother.”
(The author is Asstt Professor, School of Architecture, Jammu)

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