'Initiate measures to save Mubarak Mandi complex'
KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Nov 24: Mubarak Mandi complex, if not shifted to expert care soon, would wither away to oblivion.
These are the words of M.
Mahadevaiah, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Srinagar Circle, while talking to media persons on the sidelines of a talk arranged by Amar Mahal Museum and Libraries (AMML) this evening.
Mahadevaiah, while stressing on restoration of the historic legacy of Jammu region in the form of palace complex of Mubarak Mandi, however clarified that the complex was not under the purview of the ASI, therefore, he could not make any comment on its present state.
Due to non-availability of electricity at the venue of the talk, the event was delayed by more than an hour, so the Archaeologist divulged the contents of his discourse to the media persons separately from the audience.
While doing so, Mahadevaiah said, "Jammu and Kashmir has 69 protected monuments being manned by ASI out of which 41 are in Kashmir region, 15 in Ladakh and 7 in Jammu region." Deliberating over the seven protected monuments and sites of Jammu, he said, "After the discovery of Neolithic site at Malpur, near Jammu, which dates back to 3000 B.C., the historians have started taking a fresh look at the historic relevance of Jammu region, while they earlier did not believe this region to be that old." He said, "While there are a number of Neolithic sites excavated by ASI in Kashmir, in Jammu, till date, such sites have been discovered at only three locations, all in close proximity with each other.
These are at Malpur, as mentioned earlier, at Harappan site at Manda and at Ambaran." Giving more details, Mahadevaiah said, "The Greyware culture, discovered at Marh, where the site has been named Gurah Baba Katibba culture, is almost contemporary to Mahabharata, which has led archaeologists to believe that the region dates back to much ancient times than was earlier believed." However, he also talked of certain impediments in tracing the exact and unbroken lineage of Jammu region to the past.
He said, "Although, historians know a lot about the late Dogra period, not much is known of the early Dogra period or its genesis in archaeology.
From 8th to 12th century, there is a long gap, which is yet to be fulfilled." Besides, Mahadevaiah also explained the pre-historic settlements as well as early historic period and the evolution of the temple architecture of Kashmir.
He also briefed about the advent of Muslims and the cultural background of the Kashmir.
During the talk, Mahadevaiah also showed a number of slides photographed at the archaeological locations around the state.
The talk, entitled, "Heritage Monuments of Jammu and Kashmir," is a part of the month-end talk series programme of AMML.
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