Lamakaan invites you for a presentation and discussion with India's conservation man K K Muhammad of ASI.

Caught between Chambal Dacoits and Mining Mafia The thrilling story of Challenging Temple conservation in Chambal valley Bateshwar group of temples located fifty kilometres from Gwalior is deep in the Chambal Valley. The surrounding area is infested with the dreaded dacoits where nothing can be done without their express permission. Here more than two hundred temples of 8th-11th century were lying in a highly ruinous condition, as if a massive earth quake had reduced them to fragments and stones. The presence of the dacoits was a blessing in disguise as no smuggler had the courage to smuggle out sculptures from the complex. After protracted negotiations by Mr K.K Muhammed,then the Chief of Archaeological Survey of India in MP, with the dacoits, out of two hundred temples, eighty temples have been pieced together with meticulous care and precision. Here like the proverbial phynix,a temple town came in to life from its own ashes and debris. There still remains buried, the remains of hundred and twenty temples waiting to be excavated and restored. In the meanwhile the combined action of MP and UP Police shot down and killed the dacoits one by one. Once free from dacoits, the area was taken over by the powerful group of mining mafia. Their rampant mining and its vibrations brought down the conserved temples. As the letters to various departments and Ministers failed to stop mining, Mr Muhammed was forced to take up the issue with the then Sarsang Chalak of RSS,Late KS Sudarshan.As a result of his intervention mining was stopped but not before violent show of strength between the armed mining mafia and the police. In the end the police was able to crush the mafia. Thus calm prevailed in the area. But it was a lull before the storm. Once Mr Muhammed was transferred to Delhi mining restarted at Bateshwar with renewed Vigour. A young IPS officer Mr Nagendra Kumar who mustered courage to stop mining was crushed to death by a truck loaded with illegally quarried stones. Many officials like Mr Narendra kumar paid with their life for protecting the environment.

         Happily Mr. Muhammed who spearheaded the project is there with you to share the anguish and agony of fighting with the powerful group of Mining mafia and joy and pleasures of reconstructing eighty temples from bits and pieces. 

Come and listen from horse’s mouth at Lamakan on27.2.15 at 6.30pm

All are welcome. Entry - Free.