Sandstone can bind this Indo-Pak tie

Struck by the fact that the Department of Archaeology in Pakistan has resorted to removing blocks from the original monument, working on their reverse and then placing them back, convenor of INTACH’s Delhi Chapter O.P. Jain says: ‘‘If sandstone is the issue, then we are ready to gift them one truck. But governments on both sides will first have to be willing to allow this.’’

Jain’s gesture receives a spontaneous welcome from the Director of Archaeology in Pakistan’s Punjab, Shahbaz Khan. ‘‘We desperately need red sandstone and this is indeed a very friendly gesture. After all, culture has no boundaries and we welcome this effort on the part of a non-governmental organisation in India.’’

The Jehangir’s Tomb, Khan says, is not the sole monument facing deterioration due to the absence of red sandstone. ‘‘In fact, when we last imported sandstone from India, it was for the Badshahi Mosque here. But now of course all monuments dating to the Mughal period need this stone.’’

According to Khan, their last bid in the mid-1990s to obtain sandstone from India was turned down as New Delhi had introduced fresh curbs on its export. ‘‘But there is no other place apart from India where such high-quality sandstone is available and it perfectly matches our monuments.’’ Premnath Seth — father of novelist Vikram Seth — is of the view that the Government should take a more pro-active approach and offer a couple of more rakes of sandstone as well as marble to Pakistan. ‘‘It would I believe be diplomatically good. This is all our shared heritage so why can’t we help Pakistan with something that we alone possess — sandstone.’’ Standing next to the Jehangir’s Tomb within the same complex is the tomb of Noor Jehan’s father Asif Khan. This monument wears a dilapidated look as well. ‘‘I am not even fully aware of the kind of marble that was used on its dome. But I am sure that this again will be found only in India,’’ says Khan.

Conservator Ratish Nanda, who just completed the successful restoration of the Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, says he would be willing to offer any technical assistance that Pakistani authorities may need to identify the right stone. ‘‘Sandstone is easily available (in India)…but for historic buildings, an attempt needs to be made to match the new stone to the old for aesthetic reasons and to ensure the right chemical composition. I am sure anyone would be happy to assist the Pakistani authorities.’’

However, even all the goodwill may not be enough if the two countries do not relax trade norms. As of now, there is no overland trade between India and Pakistan. The goods train was stopped by Islamabad just after New Delhi applied the brakes on the Samjhauta Express. Official sources say the only route left is by sea, but will an exemption be made for Jehangir?