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Conserving a heritage

THE CONTROVERSY OVER the Archaeological Survey of India's move to declare the renowned Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu) a `monument of national importance', unnecessary in the first place, is all set to acquire a Centre-State dimension, with the Tamil Nadu Government deciding to challenge it in court. Given its antiquity, which dates back to the Chola period, and its indisputable qualification as a national heritage, it is only in the fitness of things that the temple should be under the maintenance and control of a statutory Central body such as the ASI, exclusively dedicated to the conservation and preservation of such structures and equipped with necessary technical expertise for the task. Evidently the proposed move by the ASI followed a visit to the temple by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jagmohan, who was said to have felt strongly convinced about the imperative of bringing it under the ASI's protective umbrella.

Predictably, there have been protests from various quarters, mostly from sections who have a vested interest in the perpetuation of the status quo — a system of administration that lends itself to a mindless proliferation of activities that are detrimental to the upkeep of the temple in a manner appropriate to its importance as a national monument. In practical terms, such a notification when it comes about finally — at the moment, only the preliminary notification has been issued, with a two month lead time for those interested in raising objections if they have any — will mean, among other things, creation of a sterile area, imposition of curbs on putting up structures and regulation of physical growth in general around the temple. For instance, any construction or mining activity will be prohibited within a radius of the first 100 metres, while such activity will be subject to the ASI's approval within a radius of the next 200 metres. Restrictions such as these are bound to affect those who have been benefiting from the system as it obtains now, particularly the trading community. But their legitimate interests in the longer term are more than likely to be served better if the temple comes under the ASI regime, thanks to the boost the tourist traffic is expected to get as a consequence of its qualitatively superior upkeep at the hands of the highly professional body.

As for apprehensions which the protesters have voiced about the "adverse" impact the ASI's entry will have on the religious practices and rituals, as also the funds of the temple, they have been either misplaced or exaggerated. It has been clarified by the ASI spokesperson in Chennai and by Mr. Jagmohan himself in Delhi that the temple, being traditionally under worship, is to be recognised as a "live monument" and accordingly there would be absolutely no interference with the conduct of the temple rituals or pujas or with its administration (which will continue to be with the State Government's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department). Nor would the ASI lay claim to the `hundi' collection or impose any restriction/levy on worshippers. Of course, there may have to be some streamlining of procedures and guidelines and such intervention cannot by any means be termed undue interference by the ASI. The one area which is critical for the conservation and preservation of the temple as a national monument is that of renovation and it is here that the presence of the ASI would make all the difference, what with its overriding concern for the protection of heritage and its commitment to professionalism. The balance of advantage lies overwhelmingly in favour of the ASI's initiative vis-a-vis the Tiruvannamalai temple and it would be against the long term interests to block it by orchestrated `public protests' on specious grounds or to blow it up as a `Centre versus State' issue or by resorting to legal quibbles.

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