Heritage matters

The Swat Valley architectural sites are rich cultural heritage of Pakistan and should be protected and preserved. But no less important is the fact that they are legacy and inheritance of the people, the area and it is they who should be expected, and tasked, to undertake that responsibility. How can they do it, the concerned provincial authority with active collaboration of the Italian Archaeological Mission has undertaken a joint programme that includes special training of local community members in awareness and guided tours. The programme is expected to 'promote tourism and develop a soft image of the country in rest of the world, says KP Secretary Archaeology and Tourism Dr Durrani. Though with the end of militancy in Swat vandalism of this rich cultural heritage has ended illegal excavation of the sites and underhand sale and export of artifacts remains a threat. Hopefully, the joint venture between provincial government and Italian government, codenamed Archaeology Community Tourism (ACT) project, will not only focus on rehabilitation and preservation of the threatened heritage but also engage the locals in this task. Compared to other provinces the KP concerned bureaucracy is quite motivated and active in this area of its responsibility - fearing vandalism during the Mullah Fazlullah-led militancy it had secured the artifacts in Swat Museum by shifting them to Taxila. These are back in Swat now and the museum is open for the public. But the fact remains that without six-decade-old unrelenting commitment of the Italians the Swat Valley as one of the world's richest cultural heritages would have remained an untold story. And this indeed is a great story. There are more than 50 major Buddha and Hindu Shahi dynasty sites and 100-plus rock reliefs that tell of the times when Swat, then known as Uddiyana or 'garden' in Sanskrit, was the busy crossroads of many religious civilisations. It was from here the Buddhism travelled across the Karakorum and reached Tibet, (this we know from the Tibetan texts).
Ironic it may be that most of the faded civilisations that are owned by the countries of their location as great national heritage were discovered and excavated and brought to life by a clutch of dedicated foreign-origin archaeologists. Same is the case in Pakistan. But once brought to life the people in there have owned these sites as their rich, proud legacy left behind by their ancient ancestors. But sometimes one feels that we as inheritors of about five or six origins of great civilisations - at least one thrived about 7000 BC, together with the Egyptian civilisation - have yet to do it in full measure. Mergarh, Balochistan (7000BC), Rehman Dehri (4000 BC), Kot Diji (3500-2500 BC), Indus Valley civilisations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (3000-1500 BC) Taxila 500 BC) and rock-engravings near Chilas on KKH - all these great civilisations existed and flourished at locations that now form part of Pakistan. There should be no shame in nurturing love and respect for them, because they were there before the advent of Islam. We should own them: they say those who don't own their past have no future. They are also magnet for the tourists - ancient sites of Egypt, Iraq and many other countries make lot of money by attracting tourists to their ancient archaeologist sites. Our sites are no less inviting tourism points, particularly those in the Swat Valley for the Buddhist tourists. What is the Babylon that sucks in millions of tourists every year - nothing but a stone-cast sitting loin and only inches above the surface foundation walls of the disappeared structures? But the pull to the place is for the artfully reconstructed main gate to the site, efficient site staff and readable text documenting the ancient city of 'hanging gardens' that pulls in hordes of tourists from all over the world. In Pakistan, all of it is feasible and should be done by the relevant agencies. But more importantly, travel to visiting sites and stay around the places should be secured.