Ancient caves battle neglect

MUMBAI: Is nothing sacred, wonders heritage activist Sharada Dwivedi while mourning the plight of the Buddhist Magathane Caves that were rediscovered by fellow historian Anita Rane-Kothare two years ago.
Members of a political party called Rane-Kothare's husband on Saturday in a bid to persuade her to roll back her activism in the caves' precinct. "But I will not be deterred, because I am fighting for a cause,'' Rane-Kothare said.
Already buried under a slum colony and now under threat of being reduced to rubble by construction activity, the Magathane Caves do not figure on the list of monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).In fact, an ASI official who was unaware of their existence felt that Rane-Kothare actually meant Mahakali in Andheri, not Magathane in Borivli.
Dwivedi was part of a special committee that had studied four historic caves in Mumbai after a PIL demanded their protection last year. It may be recalled that a plea by NGO Janhit Manch had prompted the Bombay high court to order the clearing of encroachments at four cave sites managed by the ASI. "We are already destroying our recent 19th and 20th-century heritage. Can we not spare at least those monuments that date back thousands of years and are a part of our collective consciousness,'' Dwivedi asks.
Activists who have taken up the cause of cave sites, like at Magathane, Jogeshwari, Mahakali, Mandapeshwar and Kanheri, are usually thwarted by a combination of political interference and a philistine administration.
Spotting opportunity in local resentment, politicians of every colour organised a protest march against the proposed eviction at Jogeshwari Caves, which is most densely covered by human habitation. They physically hemmed in the then ASI chief G Narasimhan and made him acquiesce to a survey to "determine illegal settlers''.
Over a year later, the survey is complete and Narasimhan no longer holds the fort. ASI has a new chief, Madan Singh Chauhan, who took over on July 1, and is familiarising himself with the list of monuments under his care.
An ASI official said, "The legal machinery is moving to clear the Jogeshwari Caves, for these are the worst affected. Because the encroachments all came up before 1992, the 100-metre boundary stipulated under ASI guidelines does not apply to them. The advisory committee has recommended a minimum intervention area of 30 metres, so all structures within this limit only will be removed.'' If the day comes, the monument may be surrounded by a garden patch, but will still have slums at a distance of 30 metres.
Jogeshwari
A series of bumps upon the forehead of these caves was once a detailed carving of Lord Shiva's marriage with Parvati. Of course, this 6th century monument has been steadily defaced by encroachment, neglect and misuse. Believed to be the hideaway of the Pandavas during their exile, the Jogeshwari caves are now home to 40,000-odd settlers who discharge effluents into its six holy temples through the year but steadfastly come to worship on Mahashivratri day.
Mahakali
Fenced away from encroachers, this Buddhist cave nevertheless must be continuously protected from hutments that come up along the boundary. It is relatively well preserved.
Hewn from the same rock as Jogeshwari, this Buddhist cave, also called Kondivite, is believed to have been carved between the first century BC and the 6th century AD. Its Chaitya wall is built in the manner of Emperor Ashoka's Sudama cave in Bihar, and the cave has a stupa and a hemispherical dome.
Kanheri
By far the least troublesome in terms of encroachment, Kanheri remains a picnic spot and tourist attraction. Historian Anita Rane-Kothare points out that Kanheri was the biggest university in western India during its heyday-from the first century BC to the 11th century AD. It is the single largest Buddhist site in the country, she adds. No less than 120 caves have been discovered, and many more treasures perhaps lie in wait. The complex has cemeteries, stupas and Chaitya halls.
Mandapeshwar
Located in the belly of the IC Church in Borivli, these Shaivite caves have begun to be cleared. Shops that border it are being made to relocate, and a small garden is being designed in front. This cave, which houses a small temple to this day, was also built in the 6th century.