Encroachments infest Sugh heritage site

The ancient heritage site, situated at Sugh village (Amadalpur) in Yamunanagar district, is facing an alarming threat due to encroachments.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums of Haryana needs to take effective measures to safeguard this heritage site due to its historical, cultural and archaeological importance.

As per a board, erected by the Archaeology and Museums Department at this site to list the site’s significance, the ancient ‘mound’ of Sugh (5th century BCE to 12th century) was excavated by Dr Suraj Bhan of Punjab University and further excavated by DS Malik and M Acharya of the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Haryana.

Three periods of occupation were traced during excavations. Besides other things, the evidence of painted grey ware, human figurines of Shunga-Kushana style and occupation at Sugh after the seventh century CE were traced with the antiquities of their respective eras.

Two terracotta sealing, one of the 6th century name Vyaghraraja and other Sugha, the name of the city, in the script of the 12th century CE were important discoveries.

As per social workers, soil theft from the mound and its surrounding areas keep taking place from time to time, posing a threat to its existence.

They say that complaints of soil theft were raised but still it was continuing. Several heaps of cow dung and thatched huts to store wheat straw (dry fodder for domestic animals) have come up at this site.

Besides, two water hand pumps — one hand pump close to the board of the Archeological Department, have also come up on this ancient site, in violation of the norms.

There is an urgent need to look after the Medieval era sacred sati monuments, situated on this mound.

Sidhartha Gauri, who is associated with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Yamunanagar Chapter, says that the ancient city of Srughna, spanning Sugh, Amadalpur and Dayalgarh villages, was Buddha’s first stop in Haryana about 2,500 years ago. He says that the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang recorded four stupas here, one of which was built by Emperor Ashoka and another housing Buddha’s relics.

“Excavations at the Sugh mound have unearthed 2,000-year-old terracotta figures depicting the Vanar Sena from the Ramayana and the Buddha himself. Once this area was home to five monasteries and around 100 temples,” says Gauri.

He says that this is the lonely site in the whole of the Indian sub-continent from where the British learned the chronology of different dynastic rulers of India from the hoards of coins discovered from the ancient site of Sugh.

He further says in the last few years a Muslim cemetery had also come up which came after planting the trees. He adds that the violation of non-checking and allowing the trees to grow with time is a violation of the Archaeological Act, because the roots of the trees disturbs the structures below the mound.

“The Haryana state Archaeological and Museums Department should take steps immediately to stop illegal coming of the cemetery on the ancient mound. If urgent steps are not taken now, we risk losing the monuments forever. Preserving them is essential for history, culture and communal harmony,” says Gauri.

He says that these sites are not only Haryana’s but India’s shared Buddhist legacy.

Dr Banani Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director of Department of Archaeology and Museums, Haryana said that their department was seriously working to preserve ancient monuments.

“We are planning to erect a wall around the ancient site of Sugh to preserve the mound and monuments,” said Dr Banani.

She said the Muslim Cemetery was outside the mound.