Narsingh Dev Jamwal
Since its declaration as a State Protected Monument, Mubarak Mandi has become an ever green subject for one and all (including me), and is being continuously discussed in the press releases, news items, write ups, editorials or even letters to the editors. And it will remain ever green till the time it is restored and preserved as a prestigious heritage or completely disappear from its site for ever. The chances of its disappearance are much brighter if we go into the happenings of last few years, particularly with the establishment of a NGO known as Jammu Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society. Many among us forget that 69 or so big and small monuments spread all over in J&K state are presently being preserved and maintained by ASI without any body’s interference and are being visited by the locals as well as the tourists from India and abroad as per their choice and the likings. And there are few others which are similarly being maintained by the department of J&K State Archives and Museums. Hence it remains a matter of great concern that why only these historical royal palaces are facing unwanted experimentation only to lead towards destruction day by day. Some time back Dr Karan Singh, changing his previous idea of shifting Raj Bhawan to Mubarak Mandi have now come up with a very right and undebateable statement that these royal palaces possess all potential to become a world class museum. Only few days ago there was an article by one Mahesh Koul in the same columns where he rightly suggests that if we are serious to restore this already vandalized and waning heritage treasure to a certain time frame we must accept and act in accordance with the charters and modules framed by ICOMOS, ICCROM, and UNESCO with an immediate attention to human as well as natural threats.’ Once speaking on Mubarak Mandi’s restoration issue, NN Vohra Governor J&K was of the opinion that ‘these historical assets are required to be conserved not only for the cultural tourism but as a irreplaceable land mark of our rich heritage.’
Now, in the light of above mentioned facts, let us view what this heritage society achieved or lost since its establishment in 2006. If we go by the formation of its governing body headed by the CM along with dozens of Government officials besides few from the political set up, itwould be difficult to recognize it as an NGO. Any how, in the first instance, the restoration work was taken up through state’s R&B engineers, who with all capabilities started their experimentation at the Main Deodhi, painting of Grey Hall outer walls and cutting old trees on the rear side of this complex facing river Tawi. The results in sight were not only objected but there was a strong and clear voice within the society that this complex should be immediately handed over to ASI for its proper restoration and preservation. All this went unheared and the first meeting of its governing body was held under the chairmanship of the then CM Ghulam Nabi Azad. In this meeting not only the well planned agenda of converting this State protected monument into a tourist destination came to light but it was also clear that not only the ASI but the department of State Archives have been completely side lined and instead department of Tourism alongwith another NGO from outside the state will carry out this conversion as per the proposed agenda. This was again strongly objected and to shut all such voices, a team of outside state experts was invited, who after visiting this site not only advised to stop the already works carried out by R&B Engineers but also recommended that the restoration work should be entrusted to ASI. Finding no way out ASI was engaged as a contractor to take up restoration work of High Court building, where as all the DPRs will be made as per planned agenda by INTACH a Delhi based NGO quite in alliance with the Department of Tourism. And where ASI was busy to restore the High Court building the remaining group in addition to prepare DPRs, also started the removal of debris and its disposal to allow the rain water deposits in the complex as also its free access to the plenths of already deteriorating structures. Incident of fire adjoining Tosha Khana and the lifting of valuable artefacts out of Tosha Khana also occurred within the same period.
Luckily or unluckily all these plans went waste when new CM Omar Abdullah in the next governing body meeting did not approved INTACH prepared DPRs to have a circular road around Mubarak Mandi and also stopped further release of funds until they satisfy him what actually is going to be done at Mubarak Mandi site. Position further worsened when the floating of tenders for a five star hotel within this complex rocked both the houses of State Assembly and CM shelved the whole issue for the time being. This was followed by the resignation of the Vice Chairman of the society while others thought it better to sit in exile. During this calmness, State Government took a right decision of shifting the rope way project from Mubarak Mandi to Peer Kho, although against the wishes of Heritage Society. And the Heritage Society in its wisdom bulldozed the royal marble platform also known as Durbar-e-Aam. Then comes the next governing body meeting chaired by the new CM Mufti Mohd Sayeed, who took a very right decision to get rid of all these unwanted complicacies and asked Div. Com Jammu to submit an appropriate action plan to be taken up for the restoration/preservation of royal palaces of Mubarak Mandi. Div. Com. well aware of all the previous happenings for the last few years, rightly recommended this work to be handed over to ASI and to speed up the restoration work under proper supervision, they must have their sub office in the complex. He was further of the opinion that the Centre may be requested to have a permanent ASI Head office in J&K to preserve and look after all such State declared protected monuments of heritage and cultural importance. All this may be under consideration, but after the death of Mufti Mohd Sayeed, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, as new CM has very recently chaired the heritage society’s next governing body meeting. The out come of this meeting as covered by the press, clearly show that the recommendations of Div. Com Jammu have been either avoided or not taken up properly, therefore, instead of easily following the right path adopted by her father, she has only shown her displeasure for the slow pace of restoration work by ASI (whose services are still being utilized as a contractor) and advises to engage other agencies capable to carry out such type of restoration/preservation on war footing. Thank God, no one has recommended the name of INTACH, there and then. Nor she will ever know that once, ASI have catagorically reacted saying that they know their job well and do not require other’s advise or unwanted interference. So to say, since the restoration work of Mubarak Mandi Palaces has been taken into hands, we are still on the cross road to decide whether the restoration work of this sacred monument should be handed over to ASI, a Central Government organization, who are already maintaining 69 such monuments in J&K, or allow the Heritage Society/Tourism Deptt to convert this historical heritage into tourist destination, by constructing hotels, cafeterias, fast food Centres and other entertainment cum business centres, Rope way and so on initially proposed in the very first governing body meeting of this so called NGO.
Every body who has a little touch with this monument knows that the disastrous position these palaces are facing since last few years is only because of this society’s adamant attitude to stick on their own proposals and not allowing the ASI to carry on their job in accordance with their established norms. Even today we can read their individual or combined statements that since years there is no progress in the restoration work, not more than 10 percent of the funds received from the Centre have so far been utilized, or one can only laugh when they themselves ask for an enquiry for the bulldozing of Marble Platform (Durbar-e-Aam) etc. None of them is ready to accept that all this is because of the callous attitude of this Heritage Society. They are still reluctant to stand by the recommendations of Div. Com. Jammu to hand over this Complex to ASI for its proper restoration/preservation and finally develop it into a world class museum as suggested by Dr Karan Singh. Nor they will accept the responsibility to tell the Jammuites that when the High Court building has been restored by the ASI, years ago, and it was suggested to display for the visitors the removed Tosha Khana items as also other artefacts lying in the boxes of Dogra Art Museum, why this restored building is still lying without any use….
I was just going to close this writing when suddenly the news of a resignation from one of the members of this society came in front of me (Daily Excelsior Sep 18, 2016). This may not be good for the society but to me it is good for the proper and undisturbed restoration of this historical complex by the ASI. And still it is time for them all to voluntarily close this so called NGO to enable ASI take the full responsibility of the preservation of this historical and cultural heritage of Duggar. And I believe, our joint efforts to persue both, State Government and the Centre to meet the extra requirements of ASI, the latter will certainly complete the job in a time frame manner and quite in accordance with the charters and modules framed by the international bodies including UNESCO, already referred to above. And we may or may not see, but one day these royal palaces will not only regain their pristine glory but will prove their capability to become a world class Museum-a matter of pride for Duggar and the Dogras.
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