The Betul Fort is giving in to the vagaries of time. The steps leading towards the fort have caved in due to government neglect over the past 60 years. A while back the Department of Archaeology had to survey the land around the fort due to the issue of land ownership. One of the towers of the fort is beautified and most of the programmes are held here. However, the beautification of one tower can not hide the government’s neglect towards the rest of the fort. Not only Betul but the state of most of the forts are suffering the same fate. Their age is showing and it is natural. However, the technology to overcome this drawback has developed fairly well. Humans have worked enough on the advancement of technology through which we can preserve these iconic ancient structures. Needless to say that it is very much possible to preserve not only Shivaji era forts but the structures which are even more ancient than Betul Fort. However, such an outlook is necessary for that to happen which, more often than not, does not happen so.
Presently social media has become the biggest platform for anyone to express any of their views. The topics are discussed with much vigour laced with virtue signaling. It is important to come out of this virtual world in order to look beyond basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. Only then will we be able to see things around us. The administration is taking care of white elephant that the Department of Archaeology is which was established to preserve the State’s diverse history. The lack of information regarding historical sites and overall apathy towards working is becoming synonymous with this department. The department however has succeeded at shrugging aside the responsibilities by pointing towards lack of funds. This negligence has led to the sorry picture of the forts in the State.
Rajasthan’s entire tourism industry relies on its forts. The state government of Rajasthan has taken tremendous efforts to preserve each and every fort in the state so much so that the tourists, domestic and international alike, definitely fall in love with the structures. The situation is contrary in our State. The matter is not to please the tourists but to understand whether we are sensitive about the archaic architecture or not. The lack of enthusiasm to preserve antiquity should be shrugged off. The forts should be considered as monuments. The tradition of erecting monuments of leaders who helped in building nations is seen all over the world. Such monuments are national treasures. Monuments dedicated in the memory of such leaders act as links between the past and future, while serving as a guide for the future generations.
Monuments are also built so that the youth learn about the foresight and knowledge which ancestors possessed. The Statue of Liberty from the 17th century is known worldwide as the symbol of friendship between France and America. The 18th Century iconic monument of Eiffel Tower is considered as the symbol of advanced engineering and technology. Swami Vivekanada, whose monument is at Kanyakumari, famously convinced the world about the importance of Hinduism on the basis of spirituality at all-religion meet at Chicago, is part of his contribution in the field of spiritualism. In memory of the warriors during the first world war, around 1,79,000 monuments were built in France which is possibly one and only such example in the world of its kind.
Forts in a way are monuments too and the thought in the minds of people that heritage sites must be preserved should be strengthened. The awareness to know the history of the State to move forward is growing among people. Although these forts did not hold strategic importance during the 20th century space age, these were the very forts which protected the State during the medieval era. The forts are the reason why our culture and identity remained intact. Hence, it is our supreme duty to pass on this heritage to the new generation and to make them realise its importance.
