It is matter of grave concern that the Archaeological Survey of India has taken a lackadaisical approach in repairing the Jagamohan, the important prayer chamber facing the sanctum of lord Jagannath, lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
In view of the dilapidated condition of the Jagamohan, it is perceived that this chamber requires urgent repair. Cracks have developed in the beams and columns of the structure and its stability has become of matter of grave concern and great problem.
Gopal Chandra Mitra, chairman of a core technical committee, who resigned the post without, of course, stating any reason thereto, has expressed that unless urgent attention is paid to repair the Jagamohan, it would face the same fate as of the Sun Temple of Konark, which collapsed due to apathy and negligence of the then ruler of Odisha. It is no doubt true that whatever serious steps ought to have been taken by the ASI to repair the Puri temple’s important chamber has not really been initiated. There is no satisfactory progress of the repair work, which is very slow and sluggish.
Odisha is well-known in India due to lord Jagannath, and Puri is an important Dham among the four Dhams. lord Jagannath is the pride and glory of the State. The people of the State adore Him ardently and wholeheartedly. Our culture, religion and way of life are deeply attached with Him. Moreover, He is the lord of universe.
Considering the lord’s importance and spiritual influence, the State Government is duty-bound to put forth urgent grievance before the ASI and the concerned Ministry stating the deteriorating condition of the Jagamohan. Of very late, the Chief Minister has taken up the issue with the Prime Minister.
And also very late, when the issue has assumed grave proportions, he chose to visit the temple to see to himself the condition of the Jagamohan a couple of days before a high-level Central expert team is scheduled to come to take stock of the sluggish repair work. His sentiment and emotion for lord Jagannath and preservation His abode seems to be lackadaisical and only for public consumption.
As it appears, our Ministers and MlAs are not profoundly concerned for an expeditious progress of repairing work. Have our MlAs and Ministers passed any resolution urging the Central Government for its intervention before an impending collapse of the JagamohanIJ Merely writing letter to the concerned Minister by the Chief Minister will never meet the urgent objective. Expeditious innovation of the Jagamohan and other parts of the temple is the crying need of the hour.
(The writer is a columnist and a regular contributor to letter to the Editor section of this paper)