Bamiyan, a province in Afghanistan that is about 140 miles northwest of Kabul is well known due to colossus statues of Buddha that connect past with the present. It came once again into the limelight in March 2001 when foes of art and culture-Talibanis flocked to dismantle these epoch making statues, slapping in the face of our centuries old heritage.
This was actually a heinous crime against our culture, our heritage, our civilization and against our well-preserved art. During that time, world community had no option but to see this heinous act of Talibanis. However, the obliteration of Talibanis has resulted in a new dawn that has given us an opportunity to preserve those 1,500-year-old treasures that had been breathing their numbered sighs.
In the year 2003, Bamiyan ruins were proclaimed as world heritage site but were also declared endangered due to their trite condition. However, with the downfall of Taliban has given art lovers and archeologists an opportunity to preserve this heritage, as a result, efforts to rejuvenate these ruins once again are on the move, which are likely to cost about $50 million. But the operation to rejuvenate these ruins has started a new debate that would it be right to spend this much of amount on the reconstruction of these ruins, especially in the country where a major portion of the population do not even have access to adequate food.
However, a big percentage of archeologists favor this reconstruction work in the name of heritage conservation and among such archeologists, the name of Habiba Sarabi comes out prominently.
In my opinion, views given by archeologists like Habiba Sarabi seem justified and as far as the amount of money to be invested here is concerned. I think it would not be possible for Afghanistan to carry on this mission alone. Therefore, International organizations like UNO should come forward for this noble cause. Moreover, rich countries like USA, UAE, France, England, China, and Japan should also contribute in this work.
Reconstruction of these centuries old relics and heritages would be very significant from tourism point of view because as we know these colossus statues of Buddha are biggest in the whole world that make them spectacular, bizarre and somewhat special. In addition, rejuvenation of these ruins would easily draw in more and more tourists from round the world. Apart from this, Afghanistan, that was notorious around the world as the Mecca of terrorists, would be able to dilute the notion up to some extent. It is also quite possible that this reconstruction work would bring this place as a pilgrimage on the world map, if seen through Buddhists’ point of view. We should also not forget that tourism reserves the power to bring in more and more money that raises the hope that it would add to the economy of this country, which have been hackneyed badly during Taliban regime.
Via: NY Times
