Hampi work hit
as project report gathers dust
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Mysore March 05, 2010, 0:30 IST
A project report on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, submitted
a few years ago is lying with the Department of Archaeology without
seeing the light of the day.
As a result, further excavation and restoration of the vast 16
square km area of the capital of the Vijayanagar empire has suffered
while the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Krishnadevaraya,
the most famous of the Vijayanagar rulers, is being celebrated
with éclat with huge sums of money being spent by the Karnataka
government.
Revealing this, former director general of Archaeological Survey
of India M S Nagaraja Rao, who had carried out extensive excavation
work as Director of Archaeology of the state government, said
in Mysore, A project report planned for 30 years is lying
with the Department of Archaeology, Government of India. When
work on Hampi was initiated two decades ago, it was undertaken
across a limited area. We are yet to complete the work in one
single area, Noblemens Quarters.
Over the last two decades, we have scratched only the surface
of a small area. Many buildings are yet to be restored or excavated.
The state government should also think of ways and means to regulate
the monuments lying scattered in the area.
People should be educated on the glory and contribution
of the empire in the 14th century and on preserving the site.
We should remember that the Vijayanagar rulers stood for values
and traditions which we have inherited. But for their contribution,
India would have been different today, the archaeologist
said.
He was however happy that with whatever work they had done during
1986 they were able to put Hampi on the world map and obtain world
heritage status. But what is done is not enough. It should
go on. Work there cannot be completed in ones life time.
There is still vast amount of work to be undertaken, he
remarked participating as chief guest of the anniversary celebrations
of Krishnadevaraya at the Institution of Engineers.
Emeritus Fellow of the Department of Ancient History & Archaeology
of Mysore University M S Krishnamurthy said some of the architectural
features of the Vijayanagar period continues to be relevant and
its techniques were still followed by engineers and architects.
He explained that innovative engineering skills adopted by the
builders of Hampi like inverted beams which were not found even
in Hindu architectural texts. Unlike the visible beams built in
interior halls in buildings of the present day, the huge inverted
stone beams offered more space in the interiors while remaining
invisible.
Similarly, carvings on the Mahanavami Dibba, where the Vijayanagar
ruler sat to witness the Dasara, had a socio-religious significance.
There were also lessons to be learnt on town planning, irrigation
and water supply facilities these rulers had created, the retired
professor said, endorsing the views of Nagaraja Rao that more
excavation needs to be done in Hampi and its surroundings.
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