Tansen’s birthplace in Gwalior encroached upon: Govt admits in Parliament

Modern-day encroachments have not even spared the birthplace of Tansen, one of India’s most revered musicians, known as Ramtanu Pandey in his hometown of Gwalior. For the first time, the government has officially admitted in Parliament that Tansen’s ancestral home in Behat, a village in the Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh, has been encroached upon.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, stated that the birthplace of the legendary musician is not a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, as per information from the State Archaeology and Museums Department of Madhya Pradesh, houses have already been built around the site, encroaching on its premises.

The issue was raised by Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who questioned whether the government had identified those responsible for the encroachment and whether any steps were being taken to remove it. He also sought to know if there were plans to upgrade and develop the Dhrupad Centre in Behat, dedicated to preserving the classical music tradition that Tansen helped shape. The minister responded that, at present, there was no proposal with either the ASI or the Madhya Pradesh government for the centre’s development. However, he later assured that the proposal was well received and would be considered.

Tansen, born around 1500 in Behat or Gwalior, was a Hindustani classical music pioneer, renowned for his dhrupad compositions and raga innovations. His legacy is closely linked with Swami Haridas, his mentor, and Raja Ramchandra of Rewa, before he became one of the Navratnas, or nine jewels, in Emperor Akbar’s court.

The encroachment of Tansen’s home is not an isolated case. Even ASI-protected monuments across the country are being lost to illegal occupation, urbanisation and neglect. A recent Parliamentary Standing Committee on Culture report revealed that 50 of India’s 3,678 centrally protected monuments have disappeared. The ASI has attributed their loss to rapid urbanisation and challenges in locating them due to their remoteness. Among the missing monuments are the Barakhamba Cemetery in Delhi, two monuments in Haryana and eleven in Uttar Pradesh — the highest for any state.

The government’s admission has raised concerns over the state of heritage conservation in India. Even sites of immense historical and cultural significance continue to face threats from unchecked encroachments, making it increasingly difficult to preserve the country’s rich legacy.