Historian Mohammed Silar has won the best research paper award for highlighting the pathetic state of heritage and historical sites in and around Machilipatnam town.
Mr. Silar, a retired Special Deputy Collector, had drawn the attention of his fraternity and other scholars in the field of history for his field-level research on the conservation status of at least 22 historical sites in the port town during the Andhra Pradesh History Congress-2017 organised recently in Anantapur.
Mr. Silar was awarded in the category of modern history of Andhra Pradesh during the history Congress. The places which still cry for conservation include 1,864 memorial, Nizam hospital, European tombs and St. Mary’s Church which is known as the Taj Mahal of South India.
“The port town has an illustrious history. The people of Machilipatnam are unable to celebrate the grandeur of these heritage sites which have a full potential to attract tourists,” Mr. Silar said. In his research, Mr. Silar had brought into light that many historical sites, including European tombs, are in the hands of private people.
A site at Bandarkota village, where once Khair-Un-Nissa, granddaughter of Hyderabad Nizam, lived became cattle shed, Mr. Silar said.
The AP History Congress has published the research work compiling research papers presented by historians of Andhra Pradesh. “The Archaeological Survey of India and the State Tourism Department should realise the need for renovation and beautification of the historical sites of Machilipatnam, which was once administrative seat for the Dutch, French and the British,” Mr. Silar said.
Mr. Silar has penned two books on history of Machilipatnam, ‘Tarataraala Bandar Charitra’ and ‘Bandar Sarwaswam’.
