INTACH launches Jalandhar chapter, to preserve cultural heritage in Doaba

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 20

The Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) today launched its Jalandhar chapter to protect and conserve the vast natural, art and cultural heritage of the Doaba region.

According to Major-Gen Balwinder Singh (retd), convener, INTACH, Jalandhar, the national body was set up in 1984 with a mandate to protect and conserve India’s art and cultural heritage.

He said the main objectives of the chapter would be to spread heritage awareness among the public, protect and conserve heritage, document the heritage structures and cultural resources, train and develop related skills and professions.

“The organisation will also instill a sense of social responsibility towards preserving our common heritage, provide expertise in the field of conservation, restoration and preservation of specific works of art,” said Gen Singh.

He added that the Jalandhar chapter would pave the way to look into all matters related to culture and heritage in the region and assist in achieving all objectives given in the overall mission.

During his address today, he said all out efforts would be made to achieve their objectives and preserve our rich heritage and culture.

Gen LK Gupta (retd), chairman, INTACH, highlighted the importance of INTACH and explained what was being done at the national level.

The Jalandhar INTACH team has retired Army generals, police officers, engineers, lawyers, educationists and renowned personalities which will provide a good platform to take various initiatives for preserving our culture and heritage.

The popular historical places in Doaba region are The Tomb of Mohammed Mommin, The tomb of Haji Jamal, Gugga Jahar Vir Mandir, Baba Sahas Chand Boparai Kalan, Kiartarpur which was founded by the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev during his time spent in Doaba.

One of the earliest copies of Guru Granth Sahib is kept in Kartarpur. Nurmahal was built at a place where an ancient town, called Kot Kahlur was located which was proven by the bricks and many coins found beneath the soil of this town. It is believed that the ancient city was abandoned or destroyed around 1300 for unknown reasons.

A major point of interest in Nurmahal is the Mogal Sarai constructed by Noor Jahan. Kapurthala was a princely state in British India. There is secular and aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture. Not only the tangible assets but the intangible ones need to be looked into to preserve their identity.