Motivate ‘tirtha samitis’ to protect sculptures or hand these over to board: DC to Kurukshetra Development Board team

Nitish Sharma

Kurukshetra, January 18

Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma has asked the team of the Kurukshetra Development Board involved in the survey of ‘Tirthas’ (pilgrimage centres) to motivate the ‘Tirtha samitis’ to preserve and protect the sculptures and artifacts recovered from the ‘Tirthas’ during excavations.

Artefacts of 9th & 10th century found

During a survey of ‘Tirthas’ in Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts, the KDB’s team had found sculptures of ninth and 10th century CE (common era), Kushan bricks, late medieval ghats and walls of Rajput and Kushan periods.

The team will also motivate the samitis to handover these to the board for the protection and display at the Shri Krishna Museum in Kurukshetra in case the samitis are in no position to ensure their protection.

The Tribune had recently reported about the archaeological value of the ‘Tirthas’, At the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Shri Krishna Museum, the DC reportedly asked the KDB’s team to protect the sculptures.

As per the information, a number of sculptures and artifacts recovered during the exploration and survey have been shifted to the museum over the years, but still a large number of sculptures, fragmented sculptures and artifacts are found at various ‘Tirthas’ unprotected.

During a survey of ‘Tirthas’ in Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts, the KDB’s team had found sculptures of ninth and 10th century CE (common era), Kushan bricks, late medieval ghats and walls of Rajput and Kushan periods.

Archaeologist Rajendra Singh Rana, who conducted the survey with the KDB, said “We motivate people to protect and preserve sculptures and other items having archeological values, during the survey. Sometime people handover the sculptures and then the same are displayed at the Shri Krishna Museum. During the recent survey, we observed fragmented sculptures of ninth and 10th century besides medieval ghats. The registration and protection of antiquities are very important.”

The honorary secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board, Upender Singhal, said “The board has shifted a number of sculptures and artifacts in the past too and the board is committed to preserving the ‘Tirthas’ and their archaeological values. Efforts are being made to identify and develop the ‘Tirthas’ under the 48-kos land and as a result 48 ‘Tirthas’ have been included in the list of ‘Tirthas’ over the past three years. All the archeological evidences are recorded and documented. All efforts will be made to either preserve the sculptures at the ‘Tirthas’ or shift these to the museum.”

Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma said, “The KDB’s team has been asked to have discussions with the ‘Tirtha samitis’ so that the sculptures are preserved and protected at the ‘Tirthas’ otherwise they should handover these to the KDB. These can be protected and displayed at the Shri Krishna Museum. The team already has a list of such ‘Tirthas’.”