Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Baradari sans visitors

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 9

The Baradari built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh on top of the two-storied Ram Bagh deodhi stands tall but most of the residents are unaware of its existence. It is presently the makeshift office of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Deodhi, the gateway of the Maharaja’s palace towards Darbar Sahib had been declared a preserved monument by the ASI earlier. In the historical references, Maharaja is said to have been going to darbar Sahib from the deodhi.

“During those times, the darbar sahib could be seen from deodhi. In fact, the Maharaja used to sit under Baradari on top of deodhi and would look over the holy place,” said an official of ASI. However, it is not possible presently as haphazardly constructed and sky rising buildings block the way. The ASI had completed the renovation and conservation of the historic Baradari around two decades ago. “Most of it had collapsed. We had to construct the roof again. Some marble stones which could not be used again were replaced. But it can be said that 95 per cent of the Bardari is still made up of the original material,” revealed the official.

The workers of the ASI stated that they hardly get requests from the local population to visit deodhi. “It seems to be out of bounds but it is not,” he said. The reason why local residents are not ready to familiarise with the historic legacy are well explained in the book, The City of Amritsar-An Introduction, edited by Fauja Singh and published by department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University Patiala.