#Protectedmonuments

[agra24]

हमाम के बाद अब मुबारक मंज़िल पर संकट: आगरा की विरासत खतरे में

मुगलकालीन विरासतों के लिए प्रसिद्ध आगरा शहर एक बार फिर सुर्खियों में है। बेलनगंज स्थित ऐतिहासिक मुबारक मंज़िल, जिसे मुगल बादशाह औरंगज़ेब ने अपनी निजी संपत्ति के रूप में विकसित किया था, अब विध्वंस के कगार पर है। हाल ही में इसे बिल्डरों द्वारा तोड़ा गया, जिससे विरासत प्रेमियों और इतिहासकारों में आक्रो�� है। हमाम के बाद मुबारक मंज़िल पर संकट 16वीं शताब्दी में निर्मित छिपीटोला स्थित हमाम को पहले बिल्डरों द्वारा तोड़ा जा रहा था, लेकिन इलाहाबाद हाईकोर्ट के आदेश से इसे बचा लिया गया। अब, इसी तरह की स्थिति बेलनगंज की मुबारक मंज़िल में देखने को मिल रही है। आम आदमी पार्टी के पूर्व जिलाध्यक्ष कपिल बाजपेयी का कहना है कि मुबारक मंज़िल का लगभग 70% हिस्सा पहले ही तोड़ा जा चुका है। उन्होंने अधिकारियों पर लापरवाही का आरोप लगाते हुए इलाहाबाद हाईकोर्ट में जनहित याचिका दायर करने की घोषणा की है। इतिहास की अनमोल धरोहर इतिहासकार ईबा कोच ने अपनी किताब द कम्पलीट ताजमहल और द रिवरफ्रंट गार्डेंस ऑफ़ आगरा में मुबारक मंज़िल का उल्लेख किया है। यह हवेली, जो कभी जहांगीर और शाहजहां के परिवार का हिस्सा थी, समय-समय पर मुगलों की महत्वपूर्ण गतिविधियों का केंद्र रही। शाहजहां के राज्याभिषेक से पहले वे यहां 12 दिन ठहरे थे। इतिहासकार राजकिशोर शर्मा राजे बताते हैं कि सामूगढ़ की लड़ाई में जीत के बाद औरंगज़ेब ने इस इमारत को "मुबारक मंज़िल" नाम दिया। इसके चार कोनों पर बुर्ज और लाल पत्थर की संरचना इसे विशेष बनाती है। संरक्षण में ढिलाई और गलत अधिसूचना राज्य पुरातत्व विभाग ने 30 सितंबर 2024 को मुबारक मंज़िल को संरक्षित स्मारक घोषित करने की अधिसूचना जारी की थी। लेकिन, इतिहासकारों का दावा है कि गलत इमारत को चिह्नित कर बलकेश्वर स्थित गौशाला के पुराने निर्माण को मुबारक मंज़िल घोषित कर दिया गया। इतिहासकार राजकिशोर शर्मा ने बताया कि बलकेश्वर की इमारत वास्तव में औरंगज़ेब के वज़ीर ज़फ़र ख़ान का मक़बरा और बाग थी, जबकि असली मुबारक मंज़िल बेलनगंज में स्थित थी। संस्कृति विभाग की कार्रवाई संस्कृति विभाग के विशेष सचिव रवींद्र सिंह ने हाल ही में आगरा का दौरा किया और स्थिति का जायजा लिया। उन्होंने संबंधित लोगों से मुलाकात की और मुबारक मंज़िल के संरक्षण पर जोर दिया। लेकिन, कार्यवाही की धीमी गति और अधिकारियों की उदासीनता सवाल खड़े कर रही है। जनहित याचिका और आगे की राह विरासत प्रेमियों और सिविल सोसाइटी ने सरकार से मांग की है कि मुबारक मंज़िल को तत्काल संरक्षित किया जाए। कपिल बाजपेयी ने कहा, "अगर जल्द ही कदम नहीं उठाए गए, तो हम एक ��र ऐतिहासिक धरोहर को खो देंगे।" आगरा की प्राचीन विरासतें लगातार अतिक्रमण और तोड़फोड़ की शिकार हो रही हैं। ऐसे में इन धरोहरों को बचाने के लिए ठोस नीति और जनता की जागरूकता की आवश्यकता है। Read the full article

[seemabhatnagar]

A Battle for Heritage

Himanshu Damle and Another v. Delhi Development Authority and others

Writ Petition No. 1864/2024

Before Delhi High Court

The Bench of Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice & Hon’ble Madam Justice Manmeet Preetam Singh Arora J disposed of the Writ Petition as Counsel for the Respondent has given an undertaking that no protected monument around Mehrauli and Sanjay Van area shall be demolished.

Background

Public Interest Litigation seeking directions to  the respondents from restraining to demolish Ashiq Allah Dargah, Chillagh of Baba Farid & other surroundings of Mehrauli or Sanjay Van and take necessary steps for the preservation of the monuments & Structures.

Submission of the petitioner

Without any public notice, Akhunji Masjd, Dargah Hazi Rozbih has been demolished and these monuments are recorded in historical records.

Since Ashiq Ali Dargah has been barricaded by the pole and public access has been restricted creating apprehension of demolition of Dargah.

Submission of the Respondent

No structure which has been declared by any statutory authority as a protected monument shall not be demolished.

Demolition action shall only be in accordance with law.

Observation of the Court

Undoubtedly life in its extended prospects includes all that gives meaning to a man’s life, including his culture and heritage and the protection of that heritage in its full measure.

But this is also equally true that a harmonious balance between right to health, right to breathe and right to heritage and culture is the need of the hour.

Additionally, Delhi is one of the worst city affected by the pollution. No month passes when the Air Quality Index does not cross the hazardous mark. Adversely affecting lungs of young children.

Mehrauli and Sanjay Van are marked as forest areas in the Master Plan.  

This Court is of the view that green areas are the lungs of the city and efforts have to be made by all statutory authorities to ensure that no illegal and unauthorized construction is carried out on this public land dedicated for public purpose.

Court perused the photograph attached with the Writ.

To its surprise found fresh construction has been carried out in the immediate past using blue, green, brown and white tiles which were not available in the distant past.

Some of the structures located in the midst of thick forest have been renovated recently and occupied by certain families.

No mindless demolition was found.

Further Supreme Court judgement provided that before demolishing any religious structure (as referred by the petitioner) prior approval from the religious committee has to be taken and this committee is headed by Lt. Governor of Delhi.

Respondents Counsel has already given an undertaking that no fresh demolition of the protected monument shall be carried out is fair and reasonable amidst competing claims.

[teresaamucha]

Water Feature at Villa Schmidt in Kehl, Germany. A simply constructed waterfall in the garden. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #alsace⠀ #europe⠀ #germany⠀ #rhineriver⠀ #vikingrivercruise⠀ #kehl⠀ #villaschmidt⠀ #kehlamrhein⠀ #europabrücke⠀ #frenchmilitaryadministraitonheadquarters⠀ #protectedmonument⠀ #fountain⠀ #rheinpromenade⠀ #jardindesdeuxrives⠀ #gardenofthetwoshores⠀ #terrace⠀ #gardens⠀ #waterfeature⠀ #stonewall⠀ #waterfall⠀ #wall⠀ #travel⠀ #adventure⠀ #wanderlust⠀ #wonderlust⠀ #explore⠀ #simple⠀ #elegant (at Villa Schmidt)

[pravasavarnana]

The oldest European church built in India….

Reflection of the Colonial struggle of various European powers in India….

First resting place of the first European who discovered the sea route to India from Europe…..

A catholic church in the beginning and now an Anglican church…

A living historical monument of today’s Kochi or Cochin……

Yes, the St Francis CSI church in Fort Kochi is all this and much more. A must visit for not only people with religious bent of mind but also a must visit for all history lovers, architecture lovers.

For Photographs / Picture Gallery Click here

The Portuguese were the first among Europeans to discover sea route to India, Vasco da Gama had landed in Calicut in 1498. In 1500 after being repelled from Calicut, Admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral & his fleet landed in Cochin. With the promise of support during the conquest of Calicut, Admiral Alvares coaxed the Rajah of Cochin to allow Portuguese to allocate a ‘Fetoria’ (factory) to Portuguese. The outcome of the conquest was not favourable, Admiral Cabal was called back to Portugal. The king allowed 30 Portuguese and 4 Franciscan friars to stay back in Cochin.

In 1502 a new expedition under Vasco da Gama landed in Cochin and the friendship was renewed. Vasco da Gama bombed Calicut & Arab trading posts. The Zamorins of Calicut declared a war against Cochin (Battle of Cochin – ended in 1504), destroying the Fetoria and forcing the Portuguese and the King of Cochin to withdraw to the island of Vyapin. Here they were reinforced by Portuguese fleets under Lope Soares de Albergaria & armada led by Francisco de Almeida & Afonso de Albuquerque. In September 1503, the foundations for the first Portuguese fortress in India was laid (timber fortress).

Inside this fortress the Portuguese erected a church made of wood which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. This stood on the same place where the present church is.

The Zamorins were defeated, the King of Cochin was re-established. Between 1505-1506, the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Francisco Almeyda was permitted by the Rajah (King) of Cochin to build a new city using mortar, stone & building roofed with tiles. This privilege till then had been given only for palaces of the princes and the temples in which they performed the puja.

The earlier wooden church now was replaced with one made of bricks and mortar. The church dedicated to St. Antony was completed in the year 1516.

In the year 1524 Vasco da Gama returned to Cochin, here he died on 24th December. He was buried in this church. But this was not to be his final resting place – 14 year later his remains were shipped to Portugal & were deposited at Vidigyeria, but it not was till 1872 he was given the final resting place – the monastery of Jeronimos in Lisbon.

Vasco da Gama was buried here

Vasco da Gama was buried here

The Dutch arrived in Cochin in 1663, till then the church remained in the Order of St. Francis. The Dutch ordered all catholic priests to quit, they destroyed all the convents and churches of the place except the Church of Franciscans (St. Francis Church). This church was reconditioned & reconverted to the Dutch Government Church, the first service was celebrated on 8th January 1664. The stone altar, the wiring guilded screens were removed during the reconditioning. The same were taken to the Church of our Lady of Hope in Vyapeen which was built by Roman Catholics (with permission of Dutch). In their place a communion table and the rostrum furniture was installed.

The church was renovated in 1779.

The British captured Cochin from the Dutch in 1795, they permitted the Dutch to retain the possession of the church for some time. Finally in 1804, the Dutch surrendered the church to the Anglican Communion.

Rev Thomas Norton came to Cochin (associated with Church Missionary Society) in 1816, found the church was in a poor state; bare walls, dilapidated interiors, partially fallen roof.  The church was sufficiently restored to enable Bishop Middleton to use it for a confirmation service during his visit to the Malabar Coast. A table over the west door inside the church shows that it was repaired by the Government of Madras in 1887, being the fiftieth year of the reign of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India.

The Church has many more of such interesting features; it is believed that the Anglicans changed the name of the patron saint to St, Francis, it was not until 1870 that any reference is made to St Francis church; in 1886 the gravestones were removed from the floors of the graves in church and they were laid on the walls of the church – Portuguese gravestones can be seen on the Northern side wall and Dutch gravestones on the Southern Side. The Cenotaph in memory of residents of Cochin who fell in the war of 1920 was erected and unveiled by the Governor of Madras in October 1920. The boundary walls were erected in 1924. The clock on the church was erected in the year 1923 in the memory of Hal Harrison Jones, a former Managing Director of Aspinwall & Company (one of the earliest commercial enterprises in Malabar, established in 1867).

While visiting the church one can have a look at the Doop Book – the old baptism & marriage register from 1751-1804 and get a link to the past. The pankhas (fans), the furniture in the church are all reminder of the British opulence of that period.

The church became a protected monument in April 1923 under the Protected Monument Act of 1904. As a protected monument it is under the Archaeological Survey of India, but the Church of South India (C.S.I) owns the church. The church has regular services and is open for visitors & tourists.

St. Francis CSI Church, Fort Kochi is different, it may not be as artistically opulent as the churches in Old Goa, but it definitely has a lot of history hidden in every nook and corner.

For all photographs / picture gallery, click here

Locate this church on the map

The oldest European church built in India Reflection of the Colonial struggle of various European powers in India First resting place of the first European who discovered the sea route to India from Europe The oldest European church built in India…. Reflection of the Colonial struggle of various European powers in India….

[bollewol]

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[pravasavarnana]

St Francis CSI church Fort Kochi Kerala - this is not a camera trick, the gravestones from the graves on the floor were removed and placed in the side walls of the church way back in the 1800s. One can see Portuguese gravestones on Northern side & Dutch gravestones on Southern side #IncredibleIndia #keralatourism #Kerala #FortKochi #heritagewalkinkochi #stfranciscsichurch #anglican #Anglicanchurch #witnessofcolonialstruggleinIndia #protectedmonument #christianityinindia #footprintsofchristianityinIndia #ChristianityinKerala #woovlybucketlist #globetrotter #travelphotography #travelblogger #indiapics #travelgrams #pravasavarnanaamanjul #NGTIndia #lpfanphoto