MEGALITHS IN PERIL

by
Subhashis Das

It is a sad state of affairs. 
Many megaliths in India are facing great danger of being completely obliterated. Sadly neither the concerned Governmental departments nor the people at large reveal any anxiety.

The people do not care as because a wider section of the populace is unaware of their existence despite the fact that India is a treasure house of the primitive monuments and a large part of the country is carpeted by these monuments.
Many a time people consider these megaliths as big snags as they occupy a good part of their property hence prefer to have them destroyed and removed.

Megaliths should have acquired the status of a much venerated heritage in India but they presumably being tribal in origin are not taught in schools hence the disregard towards them.

Constant requests to the Archaeological Survey of India, the State Archaeology depts, the State Governments or the Town/District administration for their conservation have fallen into deaf ears. So when utmost care for the protection of these ancient megaliths is seen in UK or may be Korea one understands in what a hopeless condition Indian megaliths are. 

Below are a few snaps of some ruined megaliths and of the ones which will go the same path any day now:

RUINED DOLMEN IN MEGUTI HILL, AIHOLE. KARNATAKA. Photo credit. Srikumar Menon.

MEGALITHIC BURIAL, GURUA. JHARKHAND.

RUINED DOLMEN IN HIRE BENAKAL. KARNATAKA.  Photo credit. Srikumar Menon.

Rola (Chano) below is a significant astronomical megalithic site revealing the ancient megalithic astronomers' profound knowledge in mathematics and  astronomy(http://www.megalithindia.in/2012/06/megaliths-of-rola.html).

The site has been frequently visited by numerous ASI officials, State Archaeology officers, Town/District Administrative and other governmental officials. All went back promising immediate protection which turned out to be blatant lies.
Look at the pitiable condition of this grand ancient heritage.

LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT ANCIENT MEGALITH OF ROLA (CHANO). The wall adjacent to the ancient megalithic complex is a great threat to its very existence.

THE RUINED STONE CIRCLE OF ASOTA, PAKISTAN. With buildings cropping up in its periphery, the threat to the megalithic site's existence has increased. Photo credit: Nawaz Ud-din. 

THIS GRAND SITE OF BIRBIR TOO WILL ALSO BE LOST DUE TO BUILDINGS COMING UP AROUND IT.

RUINED DOLMEN OF CHIK BENEKAL. Photo credit. Srikumar Menon.

In stark contrast I would love to proudly present to you the marvellous preservation of the ancient megaliths by the Koreans.

Here are a few pics ( All pics credit to my friend Taeshik kim of korea):

Dolmen in Toserong-ri village 

Menhir

Look how this enormous dolmen has been converted into a center piece in Gangwado islands.

©Subhashis Das