Upkeep of Jallian wala bagh

In a statement to the press, Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage(INTACH), Punjab state convener, Dr. Sukhdev Singh emphasized the need of consensus on preservation of sites like Jallian wala bagh and such work must be carried out with sensitivity and knowledge matching the significance and historicity of the site. Jallian wala bagh has a unique place in the history of freedom struggle and it is unfortunate that for long we could not pay proper attention to the site inspite of the fact that the chairperson of the national committee on the site is Prime Minister of India, and when we have risen from slumber, we have controversies, he said. INTACH was the first national body which drew attention of the Indian government in 1990s toward the proper upkeep of this pious historical site. Now when the government of India has earmarked some money for its upkeep, we must see that this money may not become the enemy of the site becoming an instrument to damage its originality and the character. Its upkeep must mean preservation of the originality with some additions which remind us of the sacrifices of martyrs, the condition of the masses, and the brutality of the imperial rule; upkeep should not mean its beautification in the modern popular sense, explained Dr. Sukhdev Singh.
Considering the recent incident of controversy around the site unfortunate, he said the management of the bagh could have invited the suggestions of various organizations and individuals who have show their concern with the bagh so vehemently. Moreover there was the necessity of appointing an expert committee to oversee the work who could explain to the people the logic of doing all the activity in the historic bagh. Showing unawareness if any such committee has been constituted, he said, the management could have involved Archaeological Survey of India or the state department or any other national organization like INTACH in this work. The committee can not act like the owner of the bagh; the committee is only the custodian on behalf of the people of India.
He suggested that even now the views of different people should be accommodated and a consensus should be developed rather than making anything a matter of ego, prestige or party politics. “The work in the bagh is not being carried out with the required expertise and sensitivity; it is sure” he said. Citing as an example, he said, the use of incorrect Punjabi to write signage and information maps is a mockery and an act of irresponsibility. Even a primary school student will write all that in a better manner. How could you expect seriousness in other matters which are of more technical nature, he said.
A committee of the architects, engineers, social scientists and language experts constituted by the Amritsar chapter of INTACH visited the bagh to assess the situation. The committee found many glaring drawbacks in the work. Although it is in good spirit to provide the civic amenities like toilets and drinking water, we can not convert the bagh into a site for this purpose by creating seven star toilet and bathroom facilities in every corner of this small place, said Mr. Mannan, a member of the team, a simple but clean bathroom on both sides of the bagh is more relevant. It is not in the right spirit if we continue to raise so many structures at the site which originally was a vacant piece of land. By building one after the other new structures, the original character of the site is being changed, said Mr. P.S. Mahoora. “Why do we have create a boundary wall of nanakshahi bricks when it was not actually there and that was not the time of exclusively nanakshahi bricks. Moreover why do we need toilets of nanakshahi bricks; why should we use the red stone for the pavements when the stone and brick pavements were already there?” asked the members of the team. “The bagh should not be used for entertainment of the people; people should visit the bagh for paying homage”, said Er. Harkamaljeet Singh, a member of the INTACH team. Er. Hira Singh, co convener of INTACH Amritsar chapter said, the work on the bagh should create goodwill rather than controversy. Spending money if it has been sanctioned should not be aim. It should be used for better upkeep than for changing it into a shahi garden”. The intach team rued that there are no proper plans for the conservation and maintenance of cultural heritage.
The INTACH is of the view that conservation and maintenance of historical and cultural sites and monuments should be handled with care and consensus.