Author: Anup Dutta in Bhopal
Publication: Mail Today
Dated: March 10, 2008
Introduction: Ancient Pratihara temple restored
in Chambal
In the badlands of Chambal, an ancient temple
complex is once again coming to life. The Archeological Survey of India
is rebuilding 108 temples, spread over 2 sq km, under the watchful eyes of
gun-toting dacoits.
The Bateswar temples, lying on a hill slope
about 50 km from Gwalior, date back to the 7th-9th century, when the Pratihara
dynasty ruled the region. More recently, however, Bateswar has earned
infamy as the haunt of various criminal gangs.
The presence of the dreaded gangs has been
a mixed blessing for the ruins - the fear factor kept not only the ASI's experts
away but also that helped preserve the ruins from vandals and artefact smugglers.
They moved out only after the ASI sought their cooperation to rebuild the
Shiv and Vishnu temples.
"The ruins had been lying unattended
for a long time. Then met a member of the Nirbhay Gurjar gang and persuaded
him about the importance of resurrecting these temples. Soon, they assured
us that they will clear out. Once they shifted their hideouts, we started
the renovation," said superintending archeologist K.K. Mohammed.
The ASI took possession of the temples in
January 2005. Even after the ASI begun its work, officials and workers remained
under the outlaws' surveillance. "As the sun sets and dusk sets in, you
can often see the dacoits maintaining a look out from the nearby hill tops.
They keep tabs on the progress of the work at the site," Mohammed added.
But the beginning of restoration work invited
another problem. The ASI faced stiff resistance from the illegal miners around
the middle of 2007. Due to tremendous export potential, illegal flagstone
mining and quarrying is a regular affair in the forested ravines in Shivpuri
and Morena districts. Vibrations from blasts at the nearby quarries were damaging
the ancient pillars and walls.
On October 27, last year, the miners opened
fire on a raid party consisting of Morena collector Akaksh Traipathy,
superintendent of police Rari Singh Yadav and divisional forest officer
S.P. Sharma. The officials had a narrow escape.
With no help forthcoming from the state government,
the AS! sought help from RSS chief Sudharshan in November.
Work to reconstruct 24 temples has been completed.
"If the funds keep coming in, then it will take another 24 months to
renovate the remaining 78 temples," he said.
The ASI is using construction materials and
techniques that were in use a millennium ago. A paste comprising mixture of
lime, surkhi (brick powder), urad dal, bel leaves, batasha, tobacco leaves
and edible gum to reconstruct the ancient temple complex.
