Fading history: A tale of official indifference

Historic Harkishan Garh Fort continues to be defaced by government departments.

HARIPUR: As various government departments continue to deface the historic 18th century Harkishan Garh Fort in Haripur with new constructions, the site is gradually losing its grandeur and architectural identity. 

The history of Nalwa

Spread over an area of approximately 70 kanals, the historic fort was built during 1822-23 by the then governor of Hazara, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa. The Sikhs had made their way to the valley of Hazara after annexing Kashmir in 1818 after facing a tough fight from the locals.

According to Hazara Gazetteer 1883-84, governor Nalwa founded Harkishan Garh Fort and Haripur town on the advice of Mukadam Musharraf, the chief of the Gujjar tribe, to maintain the Sikhs’ conquest of Hazara. Subsequently, the strategic fort was used a base for further advances and served as a key defence position.

After the British defeated the Sikhs in 1848, the fort was turned into the district headquarters of the British administration from 1849-53, before Major James Abbott relocated the headquarters to Abbottabad.

What remains

Not yet completely defeated by time and official neglect, the fort stands tall, a proud remnant of a bygone era. Built with the purpose of keeping its garrisoned forces safe, the Harkishan’s four-yard-thick and 16-yard-high carved stone walls also represent the magnificent masonry of Sikhs. As an additional security measure adopted by security forces of that time, the fort is also encircled by a 20-feet-deep and 60-feet-wide trench.

With time, the stone walls have crumbled at several places but the eastern and northern walls are still standing. Even though no maintenance work has been carried out on the fort for over a century.

The wooden gates installed by the Sikhs to protect the fort’s inhabitants are conspicuous in their absence. These were presumably taken away by the police and revenue department officials who have been occupying the fort since the British era or the many contractors who have carried out construction work on the site.

State-sponsored encroachment

Such is the state of disregard for the historic fort that the district accounts department has started constructing a three-storey building on its eastern side endangering the stone boundary wall and has also filled the trench at two points, defacing the monument.

The site has been encroached by several government departments over the years.

The police took over the western side of the fort after the creation of Pakistan and established a police station and police lines, while the revenue department occupied the eastern part.

The district accounts office occupies rooms at the southern entrance and was allotted land by the government in 2013 for the construction of new offices. At that time, District Accounts Officer Shahid Bhatti had told The Express Tribune only an access road was being built in the trench and that the main monument would remain unaffected.

According to local archaeologist Maseeullah, under the Antiquities Act 1997, altering, defacing or damaging any historical site is a crime. “The government must take steps to preserve Harkishan Ghar Fort,” said Maseehullah.

Haripur University’s archaeology department student Naeem Khan condemned the lack of preservation and the new construction at the historic site. He demanded the provincial government allocate funds for it rehabilitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2014.