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Heritage of Amritsar around Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) is crumbling, crying to be preserved

 


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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