Losing my history

There is a dire need for large-scale public awareness programmes to prevent any further decay of our history.

A couple of weeks back, I traced down the location of a statue carved in rock at the roadside in Chekrai village, Swat valley, only to find myself in a really embarrassing situation: Upon arrival, I found men defiling the statue. I was, of course, shocked.

This was a big statue of Buddistva, from the 8th century, first reported by Professor Giuseppe Tucci an Italian archaeologist, in 1955. I photographed it, gathered necessary data and left depressed. Civilised nations never behave in the manner we do; they don’t disgrace or destroy their culture, history and tradition.

The visit was part of my campaign to collect information about rock carvings and paintings from the Swat valley and to get hold of proper images and videos so I could finally document them all in the form of a book. However, interestingly enough, where I got a very encouraging response and even assistance from some friends, there were many others, who criticised me for taking an interest in Buddhist statues.

The Swat valley has remained a cradle of various civilisations during the past 5,000 years. The traces of all of them lay scattered around the valley. Buddhism remained active in the area till about the seventh century. Apart from the ruins of the grand stupas, monasteries, residential settlements and castles, Swat is also home to intricate rock carvings. According to Italian archaeologists, over 221 sculptures were once documented from within the area, however, now we will not even find half of that total to be intact.

Children, in particular and grown-ups, in general, stone these lifeless statues as they have been taught by their elders that this is the virtuous thing to do. In some areas, adults hit the statues with hammers and stones to destroy them and in others the locals have blown them up. Most of these people do not even realise the extent of the irreversible harm they are inflicting on their precious cultural heritage. No measures or steps have been taken by the archaeology department to either protect or conserve these sites — many local officials don’t even know where the statues are located. The only work in respect of documentation regarding rock carvings, that can be seen, has been done by foreigners or private organisations.

The unique reminders of our history that were once present around this country are now fading due to constant negligence, vandalism and the lack of a preservation strategy. There is a dire need for large-scale public awareness programmes to be initiated so we can prevent any further decay of our history.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.