Toufiq Rashid
SRINAGAR, June 28: A devotee offered to change the ceilings of a dargah in Srinagar and the shrine-protection body, headed by the Chief minister, saw nothing wrong in it.
His wish was granted and work is on at Khanqah-e-Mualla Shrine in old city.
What nobody seemed to be bothered about is the fact that the shrine is of archeological importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The original structure is a 14th-century monument where no changes have been made since its ornamentation by Afghan rulers in early 19th century.
This is the story of all the shrines in Kashmir. Muslim Awqaf trust headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, responsible for the conservation and running of shrine has made, or is planning to make extensions in almost all major shrines (that including the now gutted Dastageer Sahab shrine in Khanyar as well).
The reason given by the trust is that “more space has to be created for prayers”.
“We have to make space for people to offer prayers. What about their comfort in good or bad weather?” asked Law minister and member of the Trust, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
The minister has other explanations as well.”Those who are talking about preservation of the shrines have for sure never offered prayers there,” he added.
Though the state has a stringent law regarding protection of heritage, but that has not been implemented. According to law, all structures which are more than 50-years-old and have some structural and architectural importance is to be considered heritage.
According to experts the extension not only are a visual distraction but are damaging to the vernacular shrine structures as well. Most of the extensions are concrete buildings using the walls of the old shrines as base.
“These are damaging on many accounts; first visually, as these are stand-alone structures and appeal with some open space around,” said Saleem Beig, in-charge of INTACH’s – organisation working for preservation of heritage – Kashmir chapter.
“Extensions like that in Naqshband sahib shrine are very damaging for the structure as a wall had to be demolished which can damage the entire shrine. Same is the case with other shrines,” he said.
Beig’s organisation, he says, had written letters to the government when extensions were planned at the Dastageer Sahib shrine.
“The land had caved in at certain places, but that could have been lifted. The best thing about the old structures is that they can be repaired from any side,” he
added.
Some voices in Awqaf also have similar opinions. “The extensions are surely damaging. We have to take a policy decision for protection of these mosques and shrines. We can’t go by what ever people ask for,” said Vice Chairman Awqaf Trust, M Y Qadri.
According to Qadri, the trust had a meeting on thursday and the issue was discussed.
(The author is Kashmir Bureau Chief, The Hindustan Times)
