Dying Heritage of Srinagar

Passing by Valleyites watch the dying heritage

Passing by the old city of Kashmir, one can clearly see the reckless attitude of the government and people towards Kashmir’s priceless heritage.Old city or Sher-e-Khas, which is the oldest developed area of the whole Kashmir, holds rich heritage not only in the form of customs and traditions but as architecture as well. Ancient shrines and mosques are spread across the city. Though most of them are well maintained, the heritage residential houses are ignored.Hundreds of heritage buildings and houses stretched across Khanyar, Raniwari, Zanikadal, Habba Kadal, Fate kadal and other prominent parts of old city are in deplorable condition.

Many of them have been bulldozed while others are left to decay with time.Where government has shown negligence to the protection and maintenance of the heritage buildings, their owners completely derelict them. No sense of social responsibility is displayed by the citizens.Abdul Salaam, originally a resident of Zaina Kadal owns a heritage house build by his grand father in late 1800’s. But the house, made in wood and mud, is gradually ripping apart into masses of dust.

“It is a very old house. We have abandoned it some 30 years back. It is of no use,” said Salaam. Salaam says since the house is not in use, “spending money on its maintenance is useless.”Many new structures have also come up in place of heritages buildings.Mohammad Shafi of Khanyar dismantled half of his ancestral house to build a news one.“The old house was not safe. It didn’t have sufficient safe to accommodate my two sons and their families. So had to built a new on,” adds Mohammad Shafi who says that his new construction was not objected by anyone.

As the heritage buildings face threat, the imperative part of Kashmir history and heritage is wiped off. “We are least bothered about our heritage and culture. We are forgetting our cultural values and destroying our heritage,” said Majid Hassan, a college lecturer.He views that destruction of heritage means destruction of identity. “Heritage and culture are our identity. When we lose them, we lose our identity,” he added Shabana Khan, a student of sociology view that efforts have to be made by people to preserve heritage and culture “We all are a part of our culture and heritage. It is our collective responsibility to save it, more than that of government.”