Encroachment, neglect threaten 19th-century Jasuli Aama’s dharamshalas across Kumaon

Bageshwar: Scattered across the hills of Kumaon, along forgotten trails and once-bustling trade routes, stand the fading footprints of a woman remembered for her boundless generosity. The 19th-century dharamshalas built by social worker Jasuli Devi, popularly known as Jasuli Aama, are today "battling encroachment and neglect", as per residents and activists.Historians trace Jasuli Aama's legacy to the remote Darma Valley. A member of the Shauka trading community, she is believed to have built between 350 and 450 dharamshalas across Kumaon, extending up to the trade routes linking Nepal and Tibet. In an era long before roads cut through the mountains, these shelters offered refuge to pilgrims undertaking the arduous Kailash–Mansarovar yatra and to traders navigating the Indo-Tibetan trade corridor.Retired teacher Bhagwat Singh recalled them not merely as rest houses but as "lifelines woven into the harsh geography of the Himalayas." "They had kitchens for travellers, spaces to tether animals, water sources like naulas and wells, and in many places, arrangements for food donation. They functioned like social welfare centres of their time," he said.But that legacy, activists allege, is eroding. Social activist Ganga Singh Pangti said several of the dharamshalas have fallen into disrepair, while in some locations, portions of their land have allegedly been encroached upon. "Revenue records in many cases do not clearly reflect their status. That has led to disputes and encroachments," he said.Locals said memorandums were submitted to district authorities seeking a comprehensive survey of all dharamshalas attributed to Jasuli Aama, demarcation of their boundaries, declaration as protected heritage structures and action wherever encroachments are found. "This is not just about land. It concerns the cultural legacy of the hills and a tradition of selfless public service," Pangti said.Aama, also known as Jasuli Datal or Jasuli Shaukyani, lived in Datun village of the Darma Valley and was counted among the wealthiest individuals in the Garhwal–Kumaon region, Pangti said. Widowed at a young age and having lost her only son, she is said to have turned to social service, dedicating her wealth to the welfare of travellers. Apart from Kumaon, she is believed to have built dharamshalas in Nepal and Tibet as well, at intervals of every 5 km along major routes.Statehood activist Bhuwan Kandpal said the structures exemplify traditional hill architecture — built to withstand snow, rain and time — yet are now succumbing to neglect. "If restored, they can educate people about how life functioned in the mountains before modern infrastructure came in. They can even be integrated with heritage tourism."Activist Ashok Lohani added that without timely conservation, future generations may know of these shelters only through fading folklore and fragmented records.Additional district magistrate N S Nabiyal, when queried about the matter, said, "I have asked the sub-divisional magistrate to conduct an inquiry. The factual position regarding these structures will be clear once the report is submitted."