Boodha Bargad dead, but its tale still alive

KANPUR: "Boodha Bargad to kab ka khatam ho gaya, wo to media or DM sahab ke karan hum logo ne unki hi batai hui zagah pe barricading laga di thi (Boodha Bargad vanished a long time back. We have only put up the barricading owing to the DM and the media)." Bizarre it may sound, but it is true that the old Banyan tree, popularly known as ‘Boodha Bargad’, which was once among the important historical sites here, has now totally vanished. According to the care-takers of this historical tree, it died several years ago but they were only doing the formality to preserve it due to administrative orders. Even the ‘Shaheed Sthal’, the place which was constructed in the name of the martyrs who were hanged on the tree during the freedom struggle, is being used as sleeping spot by anti-social elements.

KANPUR: "Boodha Bargad to kab ka khatam ho gaya, wo to media or DM sahab ke karan hum logo ne unki hi batai hui zagah pe barricading laga di thi (Boodha Bargad vanished a long time back. We have only put up the barricading owing to the DM and the media)." Bizarre it may sound, but it is true that the old Banyan tree, popularly known as ‘Boodha Bargad’, which was once among the important historical sites here, has now totally vanished. According to the care-takers of this historical tree, it died several years ago but they were only doing the formality to preserve it due to administrative orders. Even the ‘Shaheed Sthal’, the place which was constructed in the name of the martyrs who were hanged on the tree during the freedom struggle, is being used as sleeping spot by anti-social elements.

The industrial city has a glorious past which needs no mention. The city had a strategic position in the Indian independence struggle. Being the hub of military establishment, the city enjoyed a prominent place in the freedom struggle. 

"The inhumane treatment of Indians by General James O’Neil at Allahabad and Banaras invited wrath of the people against the British which escalated into massacre of innocents. Nana Sahib, Tantia Tope, Jwala Prasad and Azimullah Khan were the gallant fighters who spearheaded the revolt of 1857. The Boodha Bargad (Banyan tree) at Nanarao Park is a symbol of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters with 144 of them having been hanged on the tree," said Professor SP Singh, HoD, Department of History, Christ Church College. Hence after the independence struggle, people and political leaders at that time marked this old Banyan tree as ‘Boodha Bargad’, which was an eye-witness to the martyrdom of several revolutionaries. After the freedom struggle, the ‘Shaheed Sthal’ was constructed in the name of the martyrs.

Till just a few years back, this sole witness to the martyrdom of several revolutionaries used to stand tall in the heart of the city at Nanarao Park of Phool Bagh. But a few years back, it was reduced to a stump. At that time, local visitors and social activists demanded saving of the symbol of freedom struggle and glorious past of the city.Even TOI had highlighted the neglected state of the tree at that time some two years ago. After the hue and cry, the district administration had ordered the municipal authorities to construct a barricading around one small ‘keel’ (seed of Bargad) which according to them was the part of the historical Bargad tree.

That was the only attempt made by the administration and even by the organizations that claim to work for preserving the legacy of the past. No one after the construction of barricading bothered to come to see the condition of the tree which is missing from the Nana Rao Park.

Thanks to the ignorant government officials, insensitive public and fame-loving heritage organizations, the centuries-old historical Banyan tree kept dying a slow death and none came forward to preserve it. Even more weird is the fact that if the administrative authorities were not able to save it, they are oblivious of the fact that the ‘Shaheed Sthal’, the place which was constructed in the name of the martyrs who were hanged on the tree, is being used as sleeping spot by anti-social elements.

Talking to TOI, M P Singh, Udyan Adhikari of Kanpur Municipal Corporation, said: "The old banyan tree died several years ago." When asked as to why they put up barricading along the seed coming out of the Bargad tree, he said: "It is wrong that any root was coming out of the Boodha Bargad. It was one of the seeds of the new Banyan tree we had planted," he replied. Description: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/images/pixel.gifAn old tree can be preserved only to a point, added Singh.

The officials, when asked why the staircase of ‘Shaheed Sthal’ is so dirty and covered with mud and cow-dung, he said the caretakers of the historical places — 14 in number — regularly wash it but as there are no guards, anti-social elements gather at the spot.

Ishita Mishra, TNN Aug 9, 2012

Source: The Times of India (online)

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