Preserving our past

If the K-P govt does not protect these historical monuments, the day is not far when they will come tumbling down.

Peshawar, despite being one of the oldest cities of the world, has little to boast about as far as preservation of historical sites in the city and its outskirts are concerned. A large part of such structures that have survived the test of time remain invisible from view because of massive modern constructions that often surround them. Their decrepit state points to the fact that their importance is perhaps, recognised only in academic discussions.

The Palosai Peeran (Saints of Palosai), a 17^th century Mughal-era mausoleum, located around 15 kilometres away from the walled city, is a grim reminder of our state’s lack of recognition of our cultural heritage, as well as its lack of appreciation of our glorious past. Most historical sites are protected under the Antiquities Act, but like several other laws, it has done little to serve the purpose for what it was promulgated for as the relevant authorities do not seem interested in implementing it. The state of disrepair which this historical site has fallen into is highly unfortunate, with no sign that the rot will be stemmed any time soon. This is not the only case of the authorities’ indifference when it comes to the preservation of our history. Many of the streets within the old city have been renamed, which seems to be a deliberate attempt to set free from the past. The government has done almost nothing to protect other historical sites, like the Gor Ghatri Citadel.

Earlier this year, the archaeology department actually wiped out the upper portion of this building on the pretext of it not being part of the actual historical site. Then, there is the Chowk Yadgar that has been replaced with an underpass flooded with leaking pipes. If the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government does not devise a plan to protect these historical monuments, the day is not far when they will come tumbling down. While millions of rupees are being invested into giving Peshawar a ‘face-lift’, equal care must be taken that this ‘progress’ does not obliterate our past.

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

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