15th August, for us it is the day of hope and joy but in 1947, it was the day of grief for many people. The birth of the newly independent Indian nation was accompanied by mass killings, riots, lootings, rapes and the forcible uprooting of communities from villages and towns that had been their home for centuries. It led to the bloodbath and migration of millions of people. Government took measures, rehabilitation centres for refugees were set up, facilities were provided but this day left the permanent scars on millions of Indians.
Ramchandra Guha in his book, ‘India after Gandhi’ has mentioned the repercussions that India’s archaeological past had to face due to an account of the demographic flood and also the division of assets. After the partition, the museums were divided on the basis of territory. The Lahore museum was split between East and West Punjab. In 1949 the museum committee agreed on 50/50 divisions of the artefacts of the Mohenjodaro and Chanhu-daro collection. Mortimer Wheeler , director general of archaeology in India, suggested the collection of the Indus Valley civilization into two equal parts, which would compromise the integrity of the objects.
In Delhi, camps were set up in monuments like Purana Qila, Feroz Shah Kotla, Humayun’s Tomb and Safdarjung’s Tomb. ASI had to deal with all the pressures on the Islamic monuments in India. During a riot in September,1947 many monuments were attacked and several muslims were butchered. It was a anti- muslim riot so ancient mosques and masjids were attacked. Moti Masjid in Mehrauli had its marble minars torn off and smashed. At Wazirabad, the grave of saint Shahi Alam was wiped out, mimbar was pulled down, Sultan Ghari’s tomb was destroyed and pillars were demolished. After destroying masjids, people tried to install hindu deity. This instilled the sense of hatred in muslim communities for Hindus too.
ASI made a request for police guarding the monument. There was a shortage of police guards so the Commissioner couldn’t help. For them, protecting monuments was not as important as protecting people as the whole country was suffering from displacements, riots and communal tensions.
In 1949, 3000 refugees took shelter in Humayun’s tomb, 1400 refugees were housed in Safdarjang’s tomb, 4500 people lived in the tents in Purana Qila and 1500 refugees took shelter at Feroz shah kotla. Nayanjot Lahiri by saying that exceptional times evidently required exceptional measures, justifies the ignorance of ASI. Because of humanitarian reasons, monuments protected by it could not be occupied. They permitted some of the monuments to be used as temporary refugee camps only with certain conditions; however these conditions could rarely be enforced.
According to the evidence, stones at Sher Shah’s mosque in Purana Qila were found broken when Mortimer Wheeler refused to accommodate a primary school in the mosque for the children of refugees living in Purana Qila. Several destructive acts were seen in Arab Sarai. The Indian army also inflicted some damage on Gol Gumbad monumental complex, when they entered without prior permission from ASI.
Finally in the 1950s when refugees moved out, ASI started repairing the destroyed monuments. V.K Gupta, Director general central public works department, Minister of Urban Development(2013) has truly said that the past is all around us. Our lives are surrounded by various historic buildings, landscapes and artefacts. Historic environment is the most important factor which defines our evolution as a human being. It is a physical record of what a country was and what it has become. The styles can define the regions, localities and communities. Our historic landscapes and iconic buildings are our community identity and pride.
The heritage buildings constructed in the past have high historical, architectural, spiritual, social, political and economical values. Similarly, heritage buildings are highly valuable and informative in terms of socio-cultural, socio-political, socio-economical and even technological activities of a specific society or group of individuals. However, since Independence hundreds of sites and monuments have been destroyed. Encroachments and destruction have been initiated in many cases by religious lobbies. Even where ASI officers have not been able to prevent unlawful encroachments.
Nayanjot Lahiri has suggested many ideas to conserve our Heritage. The most important is that the heritage laws need to be re-examined as the laws and legislations have clearly failed to protect and preserve our heritage. Antiquity laws need to be more realistic and transparent, The laws should also have to be people friendly. And as a responsible and proud citizen of India let’s take an oath on this 15th August to preserve our rich heritage, monuments and culture and value it’s integrity above all.
REFERENCE
- https://theconversation.com/how-the-partition-of-india-happened-and-why-its-effects-are-still-felt-today-81766
- https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/hope-and-grief-the-joy-of-15-august-1947-was-punctured-by-the-sufferings-of-partition/637215
- https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/partition-impacted-monuments-newly-formed-india
- India After Gandhi-Nayanjot lahiri
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Hiya, I’m BHAVYA DEEP…
Hiya, I’m BHAVYA DEEP…Final year History student at Hansraj college, fascinated by the dynamism of history. I am currently handling the Pinterest and LinkedIn page of ILF, It has given me the platform or an opportunity to explore my skills and knowledge so that I can choose my career prudently.
