SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/sunday-magazine Akhnoor Fort JEO POTA The divine connect Col J P Singh PANDAV GUFA Jeo Pota, otherwise a narrow river bank bathing point, It is situated very close to Jeo Pota where Pandvas colloquially called 'Jeo Pota Ghat' lies in Akhnoor sub- spent their Aghyatvas. As inscribed in the Gufa signboard, division of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on the they served as servants of Virat Raj. Lord Krishana visit- Northern Bank of River Chenab. Jeo Pota Ghat got its ed them in this Cave where they planned their war strate- name from the 'Jeo Pota Tree' under the shade of which a gy and the future course of action, the consequences of lengthy rituals of Raj Tilak Ceremony of Maharaja Gulab which is their victory in Mahabharta is well known. Hence Singh took place on 17 June 1822. This historic event at Jeo Pota has mythological connect with Mahabharata and this Ghat would always remain etched in the collective establishment of new nation state. Hence laying founda- psyche of the people of erstwhile state of Jammu and tion of a new kingdom at Jeo Pota wasn't one of routine Spoke Stupa which gave a further proof of a Kushana pressure on the concerned State/Central Culture & event. (Ironically social disconnect & dilapidated condi- Kashmir and most importantly the Dogras for whom it period construction, the likes of which have been found Tourism ministry officials to take up immediate steps tion of the Cave takes away the 'antiquity and divine con- was a first concrete step towards the formation of geo- at Buddhist archaeological sites like Sanghol in Punjab for restoration of ruined heritage at Akhnoor. nect' of the Cave). graphically the largest princely state of India by the and Nagarjunakonda in Andhra. This monastic complex (iii) 199th Coronation Day should be celebrated at Jeo Dogras. The historic Jeo Pota Tree got uprooted due to AKHNOOR FORT not only served as important transit camp for the monks Pota on 17 June 2021 with proper corona protocol in floods in Chenab River in 1957, hundred years after the Magnificent and formidable Fort overlooked Jeo Pota who were constant companions of traders' caravans fer- place to enable mark the beginning of Bi-Centenary death of Maharaja Gulab Singh. representing the power of the state, which was to have rying goods from the Indian mainland to Kashmir and event. Public and the govt should enthusiastically par- bearing on the power of the new kingdom and political further afield to the Central Asia, but also as center for ticipate in Bi-centenary Coronation Day celebration transformation in Jammu region. The construction of the propagation of Buddhism amongst the local hill commu- next year ie on 17 June 2022. fort was started by Raja Teg Singh in 1762 which was nities. (iv) Directorate of Tourism should focus on Jeo Pota and completed by his son Raja Alam Singh in 1802. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR Ambaran as heritage tourism sites. (v) Jeo Pota's Harki Pauri is site for immersion of Ashes. Excavations around the fort by the ASI during 1991-2001 His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet visited Buddhist threw up relics of the 5,000-year-old Harappan and pre- Site needs to be developed to meet the religious sensi- monastic complex Ambaran in 2011. His majesty's visit, tivities of the public. Harappan civilisations. (This two-storey Fort and Palace gives a strong physical proof of a vibrant and distin- is under the ASI's jurisdiction since 1982 as a protected (vi) All Govt and non-Govt organizations, education guished culture of Akhnoor. His Holiness visited Akhnoor institutions, sports authorities, social and political national monument. Although renovation of the historic on 9 November 2011. He was very happy to see the Fort is said to be going on but nothing much is seen hav- organizations should carry out various activities ancient site of his own religion in J&K. He confirmed the throughout 2022 in the honour of our founder ruler. ing changed except on river side face of the Fort-wall. excavations as one of the monasteries of Kushan period. Meager grant of funds is said to be reason for the neglect Thereafter Ambaran shot into limelight, especially in CONCLUSION of such towering heritage). Buddhist countries. Tibetan political head and spiritual Coronation of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Jeo Pota has ANCIENT CIVILISATION leader's visit established that Akhnoor is a place of entry divine sanctity. Exceptionally religious, spiritual and his- Ancient Harappan sites and Buddhist monasteries of Buddhism in Northern India. Its wholehearted adop- torical places in closer vicinity were the witness to the from where spiritualism, wisdom and political power tion by the hill and highland people during early years of transformation of historicity of the region. Year 2022 is flowed were also in the closer vicinity. That gave the event Buddhism is also verified by this excavation. From bicentenary year of foundation of erstwhile 'Jammu- its vision, vastness, purity and prominence. Jammu region it was carried to Kashmir Valley by Kashmir-Ladakh-wa-Tibet-ha', the vast empire which Majhantika during the reign of 'Ashoka-the-Great'. Commemorative Plaque at Jeo Pota depicting Maharaja Gulab SERENITY OF THE RIVER spanned over 84,743 sq miles. Unfortunately after staying Singh annointed as the ruler of Jammu by Maharaja Ranjeet The serenity of Chenab at Jeo Pota for a km length, AANKHON KA NOOR ramrod for over 100 years, it started diminishing with the Singh otherwise turbulent and noisy up & down streams, is also Mughal emperor Jhangir called Akhnoor 'Aankhon- dawn of independence. Yet the historic event needs to be connected to Mahabharata though less known in public. ka-Noor' after his sore eyes were cured with the cold celebrated befittingly at Jeo Pota each year. To make it Akhnoor is the mythical 'Virat Nagri of Mahabharat It was an ideal place in the summer months to perform water therapy of Chenab at Jeo Pota. memorable, public participation is very important which will give added importance to the identity to the off-shot era' and is one of the most significant place for its politi- the rituals of Coronation. DIVINE BLISS UT of a magnificent empire. cal, historical, spiritual, religious and archaeological sites BUDDHIST SITE in entire North India. Emperor of Punjab selected Jeo It was this place which was visited by Lord Krishna to Akhnoor has 3 Sub-divisions, 7 Tehsils, 8 BDO Blocks Pota to lay the foundation of Dogra Empire for the same A small-scale excavation by ASI, at the River bank at meet Pandvas. Hence Jeo Pota was divinely blessed site and 89 Panchayats. It deserves to be a District. A memo- reason. It was here that Maharaja Ranjit Singh crowned Ambaran, near Jeo Pota in 2009-2010 exposed Spoked and hence chosen for Coronation. randum to make it District was presented by Th. KP one of his ablest and favorite General Gulab Singh as Raja Stupa (Dharmchakra) and bases of other Stupas and walls SOME SUGGESTIONS Singh, Chairman Raj Tilak Celebration Committee to for- of Jammu on 17 June 1822. Why Jeo Pota was chosen for of a monastery and important antiquities including large (i) Lt Governor Manoj Sinha should visit these excep- mer LG, GC Murmu on 18 January 2020 at Akhnoor Dak- this solemn ceremony hasn't been found specifically men- number of decorative Terracotta figures including heads, tional heritage sites and promote heritage tourism in Banglow in the presence of Divisional Commissioner. tioned in any text but some reasons associated with his- moulds of leaves and ornaments. The excavation revealed Akhnoor. People want civil society to take up this necessity of much toricity of the event are summerised below. another significant finding that the foundation of eight (ii) Civil society should take up a proactive stance and put needed administrative reform at all levels of hierarchy. Chander M. Bhat into existence in the year 1979. Head Post Office, Srinagar was upgraded to the Status of Organized Postal Services in Jammu and Kashmir State General Post Office on 01.04.1964 with M.L.Bali as its first started in the early half of nineteenth century under the aegis Senior Postmaster and the same was functioning in single of the Maharaja's Government notwithstanding existence of building adjacent to the residence of British Resident, near despatch riders to carry official mail from times immemorial. the Bund. Later in the year 1980, two new buildings came up Since there were no regular means of communication with and the foundation stone of these buildings was laid by the outside world and with the changed circumstances the GPO Srinagar Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah, the then Chief Minister of Jammu capital of the Punjab had to be connected with Srinagar. and Kashmir State. Representations from the people and Government had to be The General Post Office, Srinagar is the central Post Office submitted to the Suzerian Government at Lahore through of Kashmir Valley and the Chief Post Office of Jammu and ambassadors; orders and farmans were communicated in a Kashmir State. The Post Office handles most of the city's similar manner. It was a source of great inconvenience to the A Royal Legacy inbound and outbound mail and parcels. Situated in the Civil people as well as to the Government. This difficulty contin- Lines area, the imposing structure of the GPO is one of the ued for a period of more than two years, as no better arrange- landmarks in Srinagar city. ments were made. The need for a new system was increasing While the Department is committed to provide basic daily; and, in order to satisfy it, arrangements were made to postal services to the people at an affordable price, it has also start a mail service.