Rajya Sabha member Mahesh Poddar has said that due to flawed reporting, Brahma Temple of Tagore Hill in Ranchi and Nandan Kanan, the workplace of Ishwarchand Vidyasagar in Karmatand, Jamtara, have not been developed as heritage sites. He said that his efforts to develop these two places of historically important Jharkhand as heritage sites will continue.
Through a question in the Rajya Sabha, Poddar sought information from the Government about the conditions laid down by the Archaeological Survey of India for marking or developing a memorial site as a heritage site. He wanted to know whether the government would develop the Brahma Temple at Tagore Hill, Ranchi and Nandan Kanan, the workplace of Ishwarchand Vidyasagar at Karmatand in Jamtara, as a heritage site as per the stipulated condition.
Replying to the question Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Prahlada Singh Patel, said that under Section 2 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, if any composition, monuments, stupas, mausoleums, caves, rock formations, carved articles Or monolithic, is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and has been existing for at least 100 years, then it can be declared a monument of national importance. Patel said that due to the Archaeological Survey of India not being declared a monument of national importance so far, it is not being considered to develop these two sites as heritage sites.
Poddar said that due to lack of proper reporting about these two historical sites of Jharkhand, they could not attain the status of National Heritage.
He said that it is an undisputed fact that Nandan Kanan is the workplace of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Karmatand in Jamtara district. Vidyasagar ji has died on 29 July 1891, that is, the buildings and other constructions built by him in Karmatand are more than 100 years old.
He said that in the 1832 edition of the magazine titled Tattvabodhini, published from Kolkata, in the year 1910, there is a reference to the Brahma temple at Tagore Hill in Ranchi. It is clear that this structure was also built before 1910 and is now more than 100 years old.
Poddar said that in light of these facts, both these historical monuments of Jharkhand qualify for the status of a heritage site. But due to lack of proper reporting, till now they are deprived of getting the status of monument of national importance and the convenience of conservation-development.
He said that he is in constant communication with the Central and State Government on this subject and efforts will be continued in this direction till the target is achieved.
