Why do we neglect protecting our historical sites?

Last year, I visited Rarikhal in Bikrampur, the home of scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose. I noticed some improvements had been made to the house. Surrounding walls had been erected, beautiful benches were installed for visitors, and the pond's edge had been reinforced. The reason for this is that the house is rented out as a picnic spot. Nearby, there is the 'Jagadish Chandra Bose Complex' along with schools and colleges.

In a small room, various mementos of Jagadish Chandra Bose are displayed. There are letters he wrote for Rabindranath's Nobel Prize, handwritten manuscripts, letters from Rabindranath to him, photographs of his experiments, a copy of his lecture given to the Royal Society, and his portrait, among other significant items.

Among our group of around a hundred people, only two or three curious individuals visited that room. The majority spent their time wandering around the field and pond, chatting with each other and listening to music. After speaking with someone in charge of the complex, I learned that very few people come to understand Jagadish Chandra Bose. While everyone knows he was a botanist who discovered life in plants and that he was the first to invent radio, only a few have a clear understanding of the breadth of his work.

Jagadish Chandra Bose was not only a scientist but also a philosopher. In his later years, he lived in harmony with nature, and if we learned more about him, we too could have become simple, nature-dependent individuals. More importantly, although the house is now somewhat beautified, the true essence of Jagadish Chandra Bose's memory is absent. It could have been a significant research center, but instead, it has become a picnic spot! Still, it's better than before; a few years ago, I saw cows grazing in the yard, and the pond's edge was broken.

Preserving heritage is not just about structural changes. It's essential to establish a research center around that specific place and person so that the general public can gain a deeper understanding of them. For example, take Panam Nagar in Sonargaon. The site related to the history of the Baro Bhuiyans has been largely neglected. There’s just a small signboard in front that briefly introduces Panam Nagar, but there are no facilities for people to learn about or understand the significance of the place.

In front, there is a small gate where visitors must buy tickets to enter. Every day, thousands of tourists visit Panam Nagar. Who knows where the ticket money goes! The area surrounding the city is filled with garbage. People sit under trees or in the shade of buildings to find shelter from the sun and rain. Yet, a beautiful resting area could have been built nearby, equipped with screens to provide more extensive information about the site through documentaries.

The most tragic condition is the nearly 400-year-old Mughal bridge in front of Panam Nagar. The bridge is on the verge of collapsing, and there is no urgency for its preservation. This indicates a lack of care and attention; the city has merely been surrounded by walls and transformed into a museum, and that's the end of their responsibility.

You can see a similar situation at Mahasthangarh in Bogura. In 2016, it was declared the cultural capital of the SAARC region. This archaeological site, dating back almost two and a half thousand years, has yielded several historical remnants connected to many stories and myths of Bengal. These myths have been used by the poet Jibanananda Das in many of his poems. For instance, in Jibanananda Das's collection "Ruposhi Bangla," there are references to the Kalidah Lake and the stories of Behula and Chand Saudagar, which are all located around Mahasthangarh.

The walled city contains archaeological remnants from the Maurya, Gupta, Goura, Pala, and Sen periods. However, it cannot be said that these historical artifacts are well-preserved. The vast area is open to the public, yet many visitors do not know what this ancient site of Bengal actually represents. Ordinary people visit such places merely for sightseeing; they do not go to learn or discover. This is because we have failed to instill an interest in historical artifacts among the general populace. The root of this issue lies in our lack of historical engagement. Without engagement with history, there can be no love for tradition.

We often say that Bengalis are a tradition-loving nation. We take immense pride in our heritage, yet in reality, our understanding of it is quite limited. How many years must pass for a specific place or event to be considered part of our heritage? A rough estimate is around fifty years. For something to be recognized as heritage, at least three generations must pass through that specific time period. When the third generation nurtures the desire to pass down a tradition—be it education, customs, or ceremonies—to the next generation, that is when it can be termed a cultural heritage. Heritage is a traditional form of education through which generations uphold and carry the same ideals and values.

In our country, we often see historical artifacts being preserved in the name of heritage, yet there is no culture to carry or develop their true essence. This is because we have become so enchanted by the present that we have forgotten our history and heritage. We are failing to carry even the recent history and heritage, let alone our thousands of years of history. We have shown extreme negligence towards the history and artifacts related to the Liberation War and its period.

Sometimes, when given the opportunity, we don’t hesitate to disrespect these symbols. We seem unaware of the universal cultural significance that history and heritage hold beyond political affiliations. Setting aside discussions of grand historical narratives, the condition of smaller historical sites is even more heartbreaking. Historic cinemas in Bangladesh are continuously being demolished, while century-old houses in Old Dhaka are being replaced with high-rise buildings at the whim of their owners.

There is a distinct lack of urgency from the government regarding the protection of our historical sites and heritage, and this negligence is also reflected on a personal level. However, a nation cannot progress without preserving its past. As the poet said, “O past, you work quietly in every realm...” But do we have a tradition or inclination to preserve our historical artifacts?

This is certainly a matter for sociological research. I am not a sociologist; I am merely a humble journalist and writer. From my limited perspective, I can make some assumptions about why we are so indifferent to the preservation of historical artifacts. The reasons are not overly complex. Our lack of interest in history, heritage, or historical sites stems from several factors. The foremost reason is undoubtedly our extreme poverty. For centuries, the people of Bengal have struggled to make ends meet, living hand to mouth everyday.

There was no respite or leisure in the future plans of people. The state was fragile and often under foreign rule. The Sultans and Mughals were not truly the rulers of the common people in this region, and the British had no claim to such a role either. Ultimately, the Pakistani rule that came was colonial in nature, lasting for 23 years. After enduring a prolonged struggle for survival, the people of this region did not develop the urge or inspiration to preserve their own historical artifacts.

The second reason is even more serious: the identity crisis of Bengali Muslims. Most of the ancient relics, architecture, and historical artifacts in this country were created by Hindus. As a result, after the partition, there was little motivation to preserve these sites. The ancient relics that have been excavated or preserved were seen as remnants of a distant past, rather than as part of their own heritage.

There is a third reason: the issue of preservation is actually related to the bourgeois society. In Europe, when the bourgeois revolution occurred, it grew up intertwined with its historical heritage. That’s why the English have preserved Shakespeare's house with great care, and Stratford-upon-Avon has become a pilgrimage site for art and literature lovers worldwide. But have we managed to preserve any historical artifacts related to Daulat Kazi or Chandravati in the same way? They may not have the same level of genius as Shakespeare, and talent is indeed a relative and political matter. However, it is true that the histories of Daulat Kazi and Chandravati are immensely significant for our nation.

Because of our doubts regarding identity and religion, we have yet to unite over the memorial of Lalon. There are still numerous discussions surrounding the Lalon Akhra! If we continue to forget our history, heritage, and historical artifacts in this manner, what will future generations know? They will see this nation as utterly barren and may think it has simply fallen from the sky. Therefore, we may still have time to become aware of our history and heritage and to preserve the historical artifacts that have endured the sands of time.

Kamrul Ahsan: Liteerateur and journalist.