Source:http://www.timesofindia.com

SOURAV MUKHERJEE

THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD: While stories of heritage buildings being the object of neglect are fairly common place, Amdavadis have reason to cheer as one of the city's oldest relics - the Manek Burj (the site where the foundation stone of Ahmedabad was laid by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411) - after braving centuries of neglect, is all set to get a fresh lease of life. One that promises to restore its old world charm, further damaged when the Vivekanand Bridge was constructed.

In early 1411, Sultan Ahmed Shah, say history books, decided to shift the capital of Gujarat from Anhilvad Patan to a place near the old town of Asawal on eastern bank of the Sabarmati. With his spiritual mentor, Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of Surkhej as his adviser, Shah laid the foundation of Ahmedabad.
Manek Burj, one of the several bastions of the boundary wall encircling `old Ahmedabad' for years together, today lies in a shambles alongside the Vivekanand Bridge, also known as Ellisbridge. Fortunately, the soon-to-be megacity's foundation and the historical Ganesh Bari (a doorway through the fortress wall made by Appaji Ganesh in 1779 during the Maratha rule) has finally drawn the attention of the state government as well as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

``The state government's archaeology department has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the renovation of Ahmedabad's most significant historical relic. The rest of the amount for a project worth Rs 18 lakh, which has already been drawn up by the corporation, will be provided by us. Soon after the rainy season and after earthquake-related civic work is over, we will focus on salvaging what is left of the relic," says J.G. Hingrajia, deputy commissioner of the AMC.

With the multi-crore-rupee Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project showing signs of finally getting off the drawing boards to the implementation stage, the AMC authorities are looking to develop this structure as a star attraction on the huge dual roadways that are slated to flank the banks of the Sabarmati.
``To some it was their home for decades, to others it is a monument that points to the birth of Ahmedabad and its rich cultural heritage. Many a legend like that of Manek Baba (after whom the bastion was christened) and his magical powers are woven around this," says Debashis Nayak of AMC's heritage cell.

The renovators of Manek Burj are, however, faced with a tough task. ``Despite our efforts to draw the attention of the heritage department and the AMC, the entire site is in a state of neglect. Not only that, it is yet to be declared a heritage site. Due to lack of maintenance, large chunks of masonry have peeled off. Trees and bushes grow unhindered on the bastion's roof. A wide crack runs down the Burj with roots of full-grown trees reaching its existing floor level. Many parts of the structure are damaged due to unauthorised encroachments," a source in the AMC says.

But even with these apparent hurdles, the renovators are upbeat about their chances of salvaging the structure. They also plan to uncover a portion (around 20 feet) of the bastion that lies buried.

``The old structure will be strengthened and fitted with a staircase allowing visitors to climb to the top," says architect and conservation consultant of the project, Sarbjit Singh Sahota.
The historical entry point (below the Burj) to Bhadra fort, Ganesh Bari, that was carefully dismantled when Vivekanand Bridge was being built, too will be reconstructed as will a hamam (a place to bathe), along with some other ancient artefacts.

And this time around, the AMC seems to be committed to making good on the years of neglect to Ahmedabad's foundation. A senior AMC official said: ``We plan to breathe life into the historic relic by erecting a board that will have the history of Manek Burj and legends attached to it. Visitors will also be taken around this structure and invited to the cultural events that will enliven the place once the restoration is complete."