JAMMU: Jammuites were hopeful that soon after the ouster of Kashmir centric dispensations, the Mubarak Mandi Complex will be restored to its pristine glory but the reality is stark and contrary to the expectations as the royal palaces continue to reel under administration’s indifference and utter neglect.
Though lately the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has reviewed the progress of work but still the project of restoring and rejuvenating the royal complex is moving at snail’s pace. It is really disappointing for the valiant Dogras that their rich cultural heritage has been a victim of Kashmir centric governance in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir that continues even today when the governance of this Union Territory is no more in the hands of those who under a well knit plan vandalized the royal structures for seventy years to finish the last Dogra footprints not only from the Valley but even from the heart of Jammu City where almost 400 years old royal structure popularly known as Mubarak Mandi stands in shambles with just cosmetic facelift on front elevation that does not match the enormity of funds provided for this heritage project.
The testimony of rich Dogra Culture, Mubarak Mandi, originally known as ‘Darbar Garh’, is still standing tall despite the neglect shown by the local governments in the last seventy years. Constructed by Raja Dhruv Dev (1707-1733) and later upgraded by Dogra Maharajas by constructing more palaces and buildings due to expansion of ‘Jammu Samrajya’ the Mubarak Mandi Complex is today craving for appropriate attention today. One fails to understand that the project to restore and renovate the aforesaid complex is far from completion despite free flow of funds and the incumbent government’s tall claims of giving a push to tourism and development in the Jammu region.
The project also saw a controversy in recent time under the LG’s administration as the same government came out with a plan to turn this important heritage site into a hotel despite its inclusion into the list of heritage sites. It is out of question to turn this heritage complex into a hotel when it has adequate potential for self sustenance.
This complex is an important component of Dogra heritage and the onus is on government to preserve it for coming generations instead of turning into a commercial hotel. It is necessary that the LG’s administration should take immediate measures to preserve, maintain and showcase all heritage sites of Dogras including forts as it represents rich Dogra culture.
The J&K Government should make the complex a major tourist attraction by developing it properly so that people coming from across the country see the rich culture of Dogras. Heritage sites deserve priority attention to be preserved and maintained in their original form. Just as these magnificent structures including buildings and landscapes have been passed down to us, we have a bounden duty to preserve them for future generations as it is not merely a combination of cultural and social beliefs but a strong bridge connecting past, present and future.