post news network
Erasama, August 14: The state government spends crores of rupees for reconstruction of historical heritage, memorial buildings, temples and forts in the state every year. The strength of Orissa lies in its intangible heritage in forms of old buildings and monuments.
The state has multiple historical buildings, communities, languages and images. However, what the government tends to overlook are the many underlying historical monuments and buildings.
In a glaring example, a prominent building of the British era under Erasama block in Jagatsinghpur district is wallowing in neglect. A building which once housed the British on the banks of river Alaka near Narsinghpur village under Janakadeipur panchayat of this block is lying unnoticed for years.
The building, only witness to many freedom fighters, who were assaulted and tortured by the British is threatened with the government doing precious little to save it. Lying unnoticed, the building has now turned into a ghost den. It has become a garden for the bushes and unwanted weeds, den for wild and domestic animals and a source of shelter for anti-social elements.
The building in itself is a prominent monument that faces river Alka and has seven big rooms. Huge windows and doors resembling a palace are major features of the building.
However, the local administration had done little to save the building as it is on the verge of demolition with its roof already holed, windows and doors attacked by pests. Old bricks are visible as the plaster of the walls has collapsed. Huge holes have been made up in the roof and walls of the buildings. Rampant vegetation makes the walls of the building weak and cracked.
The British built the bungalow as a place of lodging for its officers. More than 30 British soldiers camped in the building during the British reign. The British had also kept 10-15 horses.
The building also once served as a point for export and import, Sahada High School Headmaster Basant Kumar Dash revealed. According to Dash, locals produced salt from river Alakh and eked out a living. However, the British withheld people from making salt from the river. Locals who opposed the British act were kept under arrest in the building and tortured. They assaulted locals who attempted to make salt from the river. They took locals and made the horses trample them to death.
Many villagers of Sahada village have their names in the list of freedom fighters and sacrificed their lives for the nation. Man Samal, Balram Biswal, Juli Dei, Bailasi Dei, Madan Jena were some of the prominent fighters of the village. They were arrested and held captive in the building.
Locals reminisce the sacrifices of freedom fighters ahead of the 70th Independence Day. An overhaul of the building would result in the structure regaining its past charm, locals said.
