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Kathmandu Friday March 09, 2001 Falgun 26, 2057.
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Unaccounted
for artifacts
I read with keen interest that a large
section of the Nepalese people are horrified at the destruction of ancient Buddha
monuments, which can be described as an uncivilized and barbaric act of the Taliban rulers
in Afghanistan. The people have rightly poured out their indignation at what will surely
rank as one of humanity’s biggest follies, and history will never forgive the Tabilan
regime for the crime committed against humanity.
But then will history also forgive our
leaders who went - and rightly so - in a silent procession to protest against the
destruction of the Buddha statues, but have remained uncaring so far when our own ancient
heritage is being destroyed under their very noses? Take for instance Sundhara. The
Employees Provident Fund is illegally constructing a huge building in the "green
area" in connivance with Ward No 22, where Sundhara is located.
It is a historic site and nobody from the
Department of Archeology is there to supervise the digging or make sure that everything of
value that is excavated is accounted for. Ask any local resident, and they will tell you
that in the present excavation a large number of ancient coins and other artifacts were
found. But where are they? And who cares? We care when things are destroyed in other
countries but not when such things happen right under our noses. When will we stop being
hypocrites?
Hari Shrestha
Pako, New Road Kathmandu |
