Saving heritage has been a daily struggle, a day-to-day fight, sometimes with the establishment at other times with the ultra modern temple authorities and then with the people at large who need to be constantly convinced that history is our roots, that we get uprooted when the axe hits the tree of history. In the name of Jirnoddhar ancient and medieval temples are being ruthlessly plastered with RCC, their original architecture is torn to make way for modern concrete jungle architecture with weird motifs. The Goan maxim that ‘temple is your house’, ‘temple is your home with a `chafo’ tree flanking it’, is destroyed by that ultra modern ‘Bhatji’ or pujari who drives a pulsar at high speed finds himself pleased with the marble-concrete-sophisticated temple. Have a look at the Khandola temple, the Betki Mandodari temple, look at all the temples in most of the villages and you will know what I am talking about. The same story goes with the churches, chapels and mosques.
Yet when you sit down with disgust at what is happening around you, your despair and disillusionment disappears when suddenly out of the blue you receive a phone call from the distant village of Palye in the Bicholim taluka from the enlightened Mr Suvarin Bandekar of the Bandekar mine company who desires to save the ancient Ravalnath temple at Talle-Palye mining area where his mine is located. And come to think of it, it is my paternal history and heritage as the village of Ambeshi adjoining Palye is the village to which my paternal ancestors shifted to with their gods during the inquisition period. They were originally from the Cumbharjua island of Tiswadi, I am told. We pay an annual visit to the Palye Navadurga temple as she is our gramdevi. The Mhadei River flows gently by these villages. It is truly heartening that the Bandekars and people like Mangesh Ladu Gawas desire to conserve the ancient Ravalnath temple and not renovate it. This temple has ancient sculptures of Shree Ravalnath and Shree Mahalaxmi both beautifully carved. The Mukhmandap at the entrance of the temple has carved wooden columns. This stone-lime temple carries the simple, elegant period look. A natural spring lies at the foot of this temple. The Mhadei River flows gently facing the temple. The temple is situated amidst picturesque environs. A small islet has been formed in the river facing the temple. It is unfortunate that some Panaji based proprietor has bought some land close to the temple and has felled trees indiscriminately.
If only we had more people thinking along the lines of preserving heritage then Goa would be a beautiful place to live in like it was in the earlier years. If Goa did not have ministers, real estate developers, temple committees (the main villains of the piece) then Goa’s history and heritage could have been saved. Selfish ministers are pumping money into the villages for temple construction and renovations to strengthen their vote banks. Save Goa!
By Prajal Sakhardande
The Navhind Times, Panorama
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Posted By : Prajal Sakhardande, india on 03/10/2007
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