Is the history being sold?
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Lately, lot has been said about the sale of underi fort.
Only 5 % forts are under the control of Archeological Survey. All others are under the forest department or the royal families or some trust. Very few forts are under the control of individuals or villagers. So, I think it won't happen with other forts.
However if you see, Gopalgad has already been sold. Sinhagad is being used by public property since the times of Tilak. Everyone has taken it as private property and built bungalows and restaurants on the fort. Now, even a lodge has been opened up there.
The Parsi family living at Pandavgad many times behave as if they have full ownership over the fort.
Sahara watchmen many times prohibit you from entering the Korigad fort as they have their radar system put upon the fort.
These are just few examples. If tomorrow, the Parsi family decides to sell Pandavgad, no one can object. Sahara behaves as if they have bought the fort. And as per I think, they have actually bought up the fort. They gave royalty to government and forest dept, and now they are using it the way they want to.
About Sinhagad, Tilak first built up a bungalow there. Then came Gandhi. He gifted half land of fort to his secretary (some Mehta from Mumbai). As if he owned the land of Sinhagad heritated from his father.
This is going on for years. The people, forest dept, so called politicians are eating up forts. And we are unable to do anything...
This post is related to Thoughts.. Worth a thought