Oldest Hindu temple vandalized in Bharia Town
April 05, 2014: It has been unfortunate hallmark for our history that we have seen that historical places are not important but elite class and government ministers’ protocol is very important.
Who will save historical heritage? This question requires pragmatic answer when we see the violation of heritage act and negligence of government institutes to the historical places is growing that is also murdering the historical places.
In Sindh, Hindu Temples are under grave threats and gesture of government pertaining to the issue seems very indifferent to it. It has been widely reported about the kidnapping of Hindu girls and now damaging ancient Hindu Temples. Does any force deliberately destroy the history of this land? Larkana incident recently left its horrible impact on the issue of Hindu community. No sooner did People of Sindh come out of the pain of Larkana incident when Mr. Malik Riaz’s building project damaged the oldest Temple Mahadev in Karachi.
Although Mr. Malik Riaz had erected his soft image in Sindh by providing charity to Thari people but now people felt Mr. Malik fooled Sindhis that first he cleverly offered them lollypop afterwards he puts his capitalist foot on Mahadev Temple in order to protect his vested interests.
A visited was made to Mahadev Temple for reporting the damaging parts and their causes. Sadly the news vindicates that Bharia Town is not only violating the government heritage act 1994 but damaging the relics of Temple. While visiting inside the Temple, evident splinters in the mud ceiling of temple were seen resulted by the sound and vibration of heavily equipped constructing project around the premises of temple; single vibration is providing harm to it.
Many people are afraid of influential political personalities and are unable to talk against Bharia Town Company, major responsible of vandalism to temple.
When a media agency approached to Dr. Raj Ashok (Member of Temple committee) while talking to him, he was found frightened talking against perpetrator and kept iterating that ”we are not against Bharia Town and we are not powerful enough to take action against them as you are eye-witnessed that workers of the project are damaging Temple.” He further said ”according to preservation act 1994 no one is allowed to damage historical site, however; things are very visible to you that what workers are doing there, in the name of development. They have destroyed gas pipe line of temple; we are now in trouble to cook food (Langar) for people coming to temple.” He pointed out that ”look at this site we are digging another side for gas pipe line.” He vehemently complained that Bahria Town constructing project was being held on the property of Temple and none of them had asked us; they came and started work there. In response of questions, he said that ”Yes, we did request to higher authorities but, as you know, authorities came here and showed their simple verbal sympathies but the workers of constructing project have no care of anyone; they work day and night.