E-Paper
Another piece of history falls to dust
YET ANOTHER piece of Bhopal history ? the 270-year-old Yaseen Mahal - fell to dust and anguished heritage conservators and enthusiasts wrung hands in helplessness. For, living heritages are cursed for destruction by the descendents of their makers.
YET ANOTHER piece of Bhopal history – the 270-year-old Yaseen Mahal - fell to dust and anguished heritage conservators and enthusiasts wrung hands in helplessness. For, living heritages are cursed for destruction by the descendents of their makers.
The part of the Yaseen Mahal that was demolished existed beyond the surviving main entrance of the oldest palace complex. Despite neglect of many years it was quite strong enough to provide a glimpse of its glorious past.
The entire part of the palace complex across the courtyard behind the main entrance was pulled down about a month and half ago and the rubble, along with the beautiful arches, niches, pillars bases and pillars was taken away from the spot in pieces.
A yawing gap at the spot where the palace part stood for about three centuries seems to cry out over the gradual wiping of history of the City. The heap of rubble in the courtyard between the demolished part and the part still inhabited by the direct descendants of Nawab Dost Mohammad Khan has grown taller.
The dilapidated Yaseen Mahal is facing further peril with a commercial building that clearly looks to be an encroachment coming up right by the left side of the main entrance.
The building has hidden about five metres area of the entire main entrance structure of the palatial complex. Farhan Mohammad Khan, a descendant of Dost Mohammad Khan, who resides at part of the palace, says he had complained to the BMC about the haphazard manner in which the building came up but nothing happened.
Mayor Sunil Sood, when queried about the issue, said that he has not received any formal complaint but would take up the matter as soon as he receives any.
Architect and chairperson of NGO Living Heritage Alliance, Savita Raje, who had the palace portion documented about two years ago as a part of the French-collaborated Bhopal Workshop expresses deep anguish at the happening.
“It is very painful to see such a marvelous structure simply wiped out. The building was very strong and one of the most beautiful pieces of royal architecture,”’ she says. She mentioned that the palace portion housed some unique architectural work including a fine Itr Khana (Perfume House) with walls laced with small niches for the perfume bottles.
Raje mentioned that though the demolition could hardly have been prevented, as there is no law governing protection of heritage houses under private ownership, it is high time to start some incentive-based efforts to ensure that such destructions do not recur.
She said that the City still has some very beautiful pieces of heritage structures standing and some proactive steps are needed for their protection.
Mayor Sunil Sood and Municipal Commissioner Manish Singh, who is also chairman of the Heritage Cell of Bhopal Municipal Corporation, expressed helplessness of the administration in preventing such demolitions.
The Mayor, however, said that efforts are on to get Bhopal declared as heritage city so that the heritage structures could become protected. Manish Singh said the Heritage Cell tries to create awareness among people about heritage houses in their ownership and motivate them to conserve structures. But there is little by the way of regulation that the cell could do.
