Crumbling Amritsar heritage around Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) that is crying to
be preserved
Ground Zero
Jagtar Singh
Amritsar needs no introduction. The city founded by
the Sikh Gurus is on the global map due to Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). Darbar
Sahib is the centre of Sikh Faith and struggle of the Sikhs.
The Punjab government organized the first ever Punjab
Tourism summit at Mohali recently where he announced special schemes to develop
the holy city as wedding destination too.
The proposal should be welcomed.
Already, about one lakh people visit the city every
day on an average. Gone are the days when one would go to Darbar Sahib and pay
obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum with standing in the queue.
The issue here, however, is that part of the heritage
and that too around Darbar Sahib that is crying to be preserved.
The Akali Dal developed the main access to Darbar
Sahib from the Town Hall as the ‘Heritage Street’, although it is less of
heritage and more of beautification. The statutes of Bhangra dancers in front
of Dharam Singh Market had to be removed following persistent protest from
devotees. The heritage of Darbar Sahib has nothing to do with Bhangra and
Giddha.
In reality, this heritage street is a cover for the
heritage that is under discussion here.
.Narrow lanes from heritage street lead to Katra
Ahluwalia, once the main business centre of Amritsar, which is a heritage
marvel. So are other bazars around Darbar Sahib.
The pictures displayed here are that of Katra Ahluwalia.
One can enter any of these narrow lanes leading to Darbar Sahib.
Several of these heritage buildings have collapsed
over the years.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should take a
round of these crowded narrow lanes but without causing inconvenience to the people
to have a feel of the area.
Or he should depute his tourism minister Anmol Gagan
Mann.
The preservation of this heritage without disturbing
the originality would be a big contribution of the Mann government.
It is pertinent to mention here that the so-called heritage
street destroyed the originality. One can’t recognize even Dharam Singh Market.
At least one feature that has been missing for decades
too can to added to the heritage.
The Phuwara Chowk (Fountain Chowk) is without Phuwara that was
removed decades back. Of course, statute of Maharaja Ranjit Singh replaced that
of Queen Victoria in Malka Chowk that is about 50 meters from Phuwara Chowk.
The foundation area of the city that was the original
heritage was destroyed under Galliara Yojna launched by the Centre that was designed
more to create sanitized area around the
shrine rather than just being beautification drive.
What remains of the original heritage of Amritsar
around Darbar Sahib needs to be preserved.
Lahore undertook preservation in some old area and
beautifully.
One can learn from some European countries too.
However, care must be taken to retain the originality
and heritage itself means preserving the original, not covering the same with
just red stone.
It might be long term project but these areas several
of which have not been mentioned here including Karmo Deodi area should be
included and preserved.
Of course, this entire area might need renovation but
that should be undertaken without disturbing originality.
Can the Punjab government focus on this project?
This heritage is already crumbling.
Make the tourism summit meaningful.
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