UNKNOWN & UNSUNG By Saikrit Gulati
UNKNOWN & UNSUNG
By Saikrit Gulati
For the majority of us, April is the month that marks the commencement of summer but in this era of global warming, we are so busy glancing at the temperature on our phone screen that we have forgotten that April quietly carries World Heritage Day on the 18th April annually. And, for us, the people of India which boasts of a long history with extraordinary masterpieces of heritage, this day should hold special value but Alas! Just a few unsung events mark this day and go away. And, like these few unsung events are a few unknown monuments that might be offbeat tourist destinations but are marvels displaying simplicity and beauty.
One such monument lies in the sleepy place of Kalanaur in the Gurdaspur District of Punjab. Named Takht-i-Akbari, it has a scary history that turned out to be a happy ending. It was the year 1556. Akbar was in Punjab fighting a battle against the rebels who were out of mainstream power ever since Humayun, Akbar’s father, has invaded Delhi after some years of exile. However, the happiness over the accomplished conquest of India transformed into grief for the Mughal family as Humayun died falling from the stairs of his library. Even though Akbar was from a proud Mughal family and experienced battle, he was a child after all. Here comes Bairam Khan. He was Akbar’s loyal guardian and he quickly decided to crown Akbar king. And, for this coronation was built the Takht-i-Akbari in Punjab. Even though a simple structure with a platform and a water tank, it has some intricate designs. Though this monument was built in haste, it is still an architectural marvel in some aspects. Sitting in this place amid beautiful wheat fields makes one experience inner peace. The complementing wheat fields and this monument make it a heaven for archaeologists and nature-lovers as well.
Another such monument lying untouched and unexplored in Punjab stands gasping for breath near Ludhiana in Doraha. It is a Mughal Serai that was commissioned by Jahangir as a resting place for travellers. It consists of a beautiful mosque in urgent need of repairs, innumerable wells, and many rooms. All the rooms are very beautiful with spaces for the sunlight to come in. There are also some Hammams. Some rooms are big and the real joy comes by guessing the purpose of these monuments in those days. It is human nature to satisfy each question in our mind and we all may find different explanations, especially since there is minuscule information on this monument. Unlike most monuments, you can even climb the stairs of it and go to the roof. You can roam around, view the city, and even see those holes for the sun to penetrate into the rooms. Some kilometers away from this stands another Mughal Serai commissioned by Lashkari Khan, a general serving Aurangzeb. However, the monument is in very poor condition. However, visiting it is also an enjoyable experience.
These are only 2 gems from a vast sea of unsung diamond-like heritage pieces in our country. All we need to do is to explore them. It is not that monuments exist only in the Golden Triangle. Each state boasts of its own monument. These neglected pieces of architecture can only be preserved if we state visit them, tell each other about them through social media, and conduct awareness campaigns on the need for their conservation. Social Media is a powerful tool and we can use it wisely to conserve these monuments.
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