Gutting monuments

Located halfway between Rajouri and Nowshera, Chingas was one of the halting stations on the old Mughal route between Gujarat now in Pakistan and Shopian in Kashmir, and has several monuments of national importance.

These include a serai and mosque built by Emperor Jehangir for the travellers from Delhi and Lahore toKashmir, including the royal caravan.

The serai later became famous as here is where the entrails of Jehangir were buried when he died at this spot on way from Srinagar. In fact, the place also got its name from this episode as Chingas means intestines in Persian.

According to historical sources, Jehangir, on his way back from Kashmir to Lahore, breathed his last around the serai on 28th of October 1627 A.D. But Noorjahan, the wife of Jehangir, kept the news of his death secret till she reached Agra and to protect the dead body from decomposition had the entrails removed and buried in the compound of the serai.

But now, thanks to the overenthusiasm for restoration and preservation of the monuments, the latter are slowly losing their beauty. The foundation stone announcing the restoration works by the minister for education itself has been located right in front of the main entrance of the serai, blocking its view.

Besides, instead of restoring the monument to its original colour, the mosque andJehangir8217;s tomb have been painted sparkling white. The floor around the tomb of Jehangir has not only been covered with white marble but has been enclosed by a cast iron railing all against the ethics of conservation.

The arched doorways, in front of the series of double doors which surround the square compound, are another casualty. The arches of the restored portion are triangular against the true arch which is the hallmark of all Mughal architecture.

8220;The ethics of conservation clearly specify that every original member of a historic building should be preserved intact and part restoration should be undertaken only if artisans are able to attain the excellence of the old,8221; says Dr B.R. Mani, Superintendent Archaeologist, Archaeology Survey of India ASI, Srinagar Circle.

The monument is under the protection of the state Department of Archaeology, which in turn is directly under the minister of education. The latter and local politicians have reportedly now become self-styled conservators ofthe monuments at Chingas.

Aparna Tandon, a Havard-trained conservator who is currently working as curator at Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu, feels the situation is no better in the rest of the state. 8220;Had it not been for the ASI, which has some 67 monuments under its protection in the state, the artistic and cultural wealth scattered in three regions of the state, viz Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, would be lost forever, as the state Department of Archaeology neither has the trained personnel nor has provision for adequate funds to look after its monuments,8221; she says.

When asked about the alteration of the original design of the arches to the triangular one in the restored version, the archaeologist from the State Archaeology Department said that as the original design could not be created in brick work, at the plaster stage, the arches will be made to resemble the original arches.