Monumental tragedy

• The ASI will probably claim lack of funds as the cause of the neglect. However, the true cause lies much deeper, with its roots in th...

• The ASI will probably claim lack of funds as the cause of the neglect. However, the true cause lies much deeper, with its roots in the lack of sensitivity and awareness in the average Indian. Look at what we have done to our roads, city transport services, railways, rivers, urban and rural water supply systems. Look at the plastic waste we throw out of train windows. The list is endless. The callousness of the public, public servants and government bodies, starting from gram panchayats to the central government, in maintaining our surroundings is a national disgrace.
Sadashiv S Apte

• As pointed out, your series on the health of our heritage is truly one of your most significant. From my personal experience, I agree with your observation that it is the same depressing story of insensitivity and callousness everywhere. Sadly, the series and your column will be forgotten in no time. Nothing will change, except the sickening narcissism about ‘‘Incredible India’’ and the endless bragging about our ‘‘potential’’. The fact is, whether it’s traffic rules or our wildlife, heritage, we have lost all sense of shame and just couldn’t care less. Do we indeed deserve our heritage?
Sharad Panse

• It’s not just the well-known Meenakshi Temple at Madurai or the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Tanjore. The fact is there are several temples in Tamil Nadu which are supposed to be maintained by the ASI but are a picture of neglect. These include the Shreerabdinadar Temple at Namakkal and the Vishnu Temple at Tirumayyamr. I doubt very much if the ASI or State Government cares at all. Despite their religious significance, many of these temples don’t even have proper facilities for darshan.
Arjun Iyer

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• It is indeed sad that our historical monuments, which have withstood foreign invasions, now face a threat to their existence due to sheer neglect. And while our netas miss no occasion to refer to our ‘‘glorious past’’ and ‘‘rich heritage’’, they make no attempt to preserve it. Recently, I had the misfortune of visiting the Sun Temple at Konark. There are food stalls for the perpetually hungry Indian tourists, bringing with them the accompanying garbage. Loud music greets visitors. And as for the guides, the less said the better. In Panchgani, it’s the same story.
Yasmin K Patel

• A few days back, my wife and I visited the Jaggannath Temple at Puri. It was a sad sight: hardly any maintenance work, hordes of greedy priests. It is time that we woke up to our treasures and took up the responsibility of ensuring their safety.
S D Israni

• While our temples are a picture of neglect, it is a different story when it comes to our churches which are so well maintained. We should emulate their example.
R Umashankar

• While local authorities/ governments have discovered tourism as a potential resource, they have failed to take appropriate steps to promote it in the right manner. Our national and world heritage sites in the country are going to ruin, and nobody is doing anything about it.
Shrinivas

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• The poor health of our heritage reflects the crass commercialisation that has overtaken our society. We have never understood the value of these historical monuments. If we are truly proud of our heritage, as we so often claim to be, we should take adequate steps to preserve them. Look at the sorry state of our temples, the smelly Elephanta Caves, the forts in ruins. I am not sure if the government can ever protect or care for these sites. Maybe ‘‘privatising’’ these structures and formulating strict policies for their operations could be the answer. If countries the world over can showcase their heritage, we too should be able to do so.
Rajesh Pawar

• Between our indifferent governments and our own callous attitude towards our culture and environment, we have truly made India a junk yard. It’s not just the ancient monuments. Look at our urban centres, roads, trains etc.
Jawahar Seker

• I hail from Mahabaleshwar. The Panchganga Mahabali and Atibali Temples are hardly maintained. And the Krishna Temple at Old Mahabaleshwar has a cremation site in front, exposing the old structure to high heat from the burning pyres.
Digvijay