The Hindu : New Delhi News : Ravana set to beat a hasty retreat from Lohani's tomb

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 23, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Ravana set to beat a hasty retreat from Lohani's tomb

Mandira Nayar

HISTORICAL REMNANT : The Dariya Khan Lohani's Tomb at East Kidwai Nagar in New Delhi. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI: It is a victory that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials are proud of. With the ASI issuing notice to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove a fountain from Dariya Khan Lohani's tomb -- a protected monument -- one of the few examples of an open tomb in the city will finally reclaim some of its dignity.

The bone of contention between the NDMC and the ASI for a couple of years, the concrete fountain left ASI official fuming over its "choice" as well as the way it was put up. Claiming that the NDMC never took permission for the fountain, ASI officials even wrote to the Council objecting to the "taking over" of their monument, but apparently the NDMC did not respond to the letter and continued to build the fountain.

"We have now sent a notice to the NDMC telling them to either remove it or we will do it for them," said a senior official of the ASI. While the NDMC has not responded to the notice as yet, the ASI seems to be determined to carry out its threat.

"The fountain was inappropriate for the tomb which is a significant building. There are also plans to start work on the building this year. We intend to start on what needs urgent attention as well as the garden around the tomb," an officer stated. The tomb was built for Darya Khan, the chief justice during the reign of Bahlol Lodi, is an unusual complex. With more than a few domed "chhatris", the tomb was now stranded in the middle of the road of a small colony.

More than its lack of aesthetics, the fountain that is built against the monument has caused severe damage to the ancient walls. Having dug up the entire green area to lay pipelines and electricity cables, the fountain would have destroyed several layers of underground archaeology experts fear.

One of the most "historic" islands in the city, the tomb is frequently a battleground for the ASI for more than just the ugly concrete fountain. A favourite site to burn the effigies of Ravana during Dussehra for years now, the ASI managed to win this point only this year by contacting the police well in advance to solve the problem.

With residents in the areas not sensitive to the monument, it had been "sacrificed" by local politicians for the sake of popularity to win over the people in the area by taking advantage of its height to burn the effigies for a better view. However, now that the ASI is planning to start work on the building and taking a firm step to remove the fountain, the tomb will hopefully come a little closer to what it once was.

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