Kuldhara’s ancient appeal under threat

KULDHARA

(

JAISALMER

): Kuldhara, a 13th century village in Rajasthan, shrouded in mystery and folklore, now findsitself at thecentre of a debate between the authorities who are working to “restore” its ancient glory and history lovers clamouring for keeping thesitein itsoriginal form.

Situated about 18kms from Jaisalmer, this eerie village draws foreign and domestic touristswithitslegendary tales of lust, abandonment and curse. Legend goes that around 200 years ago the Paliwal Brahmins who lived in the village suffered persecution by then diwan of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh, for resisting his attempt to marry the 16-year-old daughter of the village chief. The diwan already had five wives. Though reeling under extreme taxation, thehapless villagers drew a line at the Diwan’s ultimatum that the girl behandedover tohim or shewouldbetaken by force.

On theeve of

Buddha Poornima

, residents of 84 villages, including Kuldhara, abruptly uprooted themselves, burying their pots, pans and wealth. On their way out, the Kuldhara residents put a curse on the village that anybody who spent a night there would not live to see the next day. Closer tothisday, thefolklore was bolstered by a government guard who dared to defy the curse and sleep over at the village. He is said to have paid the price with the lives of his father, wife and daughter-in-law.

The government’s efforts to cashin on theintrigue and mystery surrounding the village have ledto questionable results, say local and history lovers. A private public partnership with Raj WestPower Ltd, JSW, has led to “aberrations” and “eyesores” like a modern cafeteria, dance floor and painted signages amidstthe ruins. In their zestto milk the cash cow, the restorers of Kuldhara may wellbedepriving the ancient village of the very aura that lures visitors.

In contrast, a film unit shooting in the ruins was dealt with severely for causing damage to the original structures. The crew of ‘Agent Vinod’ starring Saif Ali Khan, had painted Taliban signs on the ancient walls to lend authenticity to the desired setting of the Pakistan border. The government however, promptly filed cases against the crew members and slapped ahefty fine toundothedamage.

Justifying the reconstruction of thecrumbling ruins, Aditya Agarwal, director, Raj West-Power Ltd, argues: “We have reconstructed the old structures to show how people in those days lived. Itisjustthefront part of the village that we have restored, the dilapidated houses are stillthere at theback.”

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