Modernity in the Shadow of Ancient Light
Varanasi In Prospect
Varanasi- famously known by its spiritual name Kashi (Luminous Light) is the cultural & religious capital of India. Its supremacy has never been challenged at any point of time in history. From ancient time it is believed that the city is older than history itself, ancient texts praise the city in numerous hymns explaining the pious nature of the city.
Current archaeological excavations did in Rajghat Area & Sarnath take its history to the time of Indus- Sarswati Civilization. Story of King Divodas mentioned in the Kashi Khanda of Skanda Puran reveals the revered sanctity of Kashi that even Gods prefer this city to Heaven. Its unique geography contains the entire universe in Five Koshas.
Each religious place has a unique energy that make the place transcend spiritual feelings to another level but Kashi is the most revered one among them because it is the ultimate place of pious energy. It’s a representation of universe on earth in a form of cosmological city. Religious place scattered around India has its representation in Varanasi. Places like Dwarks, Rameshwaram, Puri, Kedarnath etc are situated within the sacred geography of the city. It is believed that if one visit Kashi just once in lifetime gets the fruits of visiting all other religious places in many lifetimes.
Confluence of three sacred rivers Varuna, Assi & Ganga takes its sanctity to different dimension. Its narrow lanes spanning the city from north to south are like veins of human body. Ever alive never calm. Cremation grounds on other part of India is believed to be a renounced place situated outside of the city fringes but here in Varanasi death is auspicious, celebration in nature, salvation from circle of life & death, the two most pious places Harishchandra Ghat & Manikarnika Ghat, two cremation grounds are just situated in the middle of the city.
Once this city was known as Anandavan, filled with numerous ponds of astrological significance all around the city was encircled by the eternal forests. Varanasi was the ultimate place of learning in all of Indian History, it was the most revered place for the learned if one is accepted here with his wisdom he would have been a know learned around India. Varanasi marked its position even among the business cites of India as well when this was the only route crossing from North & South and East to West.
Important Features of the City
Tourism- Tourism has been one of the major businesses activities of the city from ancient time. Earlier religious tourism was the main prevalent phenomenon of the city in past. People from all around India used to throng here in numbers in particularly all seasons year around. The phenomenon is same to this date as well where religious & spiritual tourists now from around the world throng here in numbers in all seasons year around. Other sorts of tourists are Historical, Cultural, Educational, Business, and Researchers etc. they visit the city in numbers in season from August to March.
Education- Varanasi from ancient times is well known for its educational acumen. This has been the place of Sanskrit, Religion, Philosophy, Culture, Music, Arts & Crafts, Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga learning. People from around the world come here to learn in the luminous light of the city. Here in Varanasi there are four universities & numbers of colleges that provide quality modern education to masses. Apart from modern streams there are numerous independent institutions that provide ancient education to students with ancient Indian technique of education.
Business- Kashi was situated on the ancient silk route, roads that took business from far South-East Asia to Europe & visa-versa. Other business route that gauged the India form North-to-South, Varanasi was the main point of trades. Traders from far places used to throng here in times to either exchange the goods or sell them in this prosperous city of Varanasi. The city is known for its indigenous products as well like Silk Sarees, Wood Works, Carpets, Ornaments, and Musical Instruments etc.
Important Landmarks of the City
Sights wise the whole city falls in the gamut of Important Sights, as it is a matter of historical importance & each corner of the city has something unique to offer. For visitors, its concentration of mass gathering is centred towards the Ghats area or near to River Ganga. Another important geographical feature of the city is so important for the visitors liking is cities narrow lanes bisecting the city itself from North to South direction of the city, starting from River Varuna & ending at the River Assi.
These narrow lanes of the city have the oldest structures of the city constructed interestingly in these narrow lanes. One important sight as mentioned above is Ghats and most of the activities are centred at the River & the Ghats. With the suitability of the visitors & convenience to them they further move towards the Banaras Hindu University in between giving a peep at Sankatmochan Temple, Durga Temple, Manas Mandir & Bharat Mata Temple in Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.
Further suitability of the visitors makes them to visit Sanskrit University. So to say basically visitors all around focus are centred towards the Ghats area only. Secondly they move towards the Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave its first sermon after getting enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Other important sights are in the stage of negligence that can be transformed into major landmarks if developed with proper planning.
Left out Important Landmarks of the City
Panchakoshi Trip: - As city defined in many historical Vedic Texts is not just a city of minor boundaries as the whole city itself is a circle of illuminated lights. This half encircled city starting from Rajghat to Assi is the original city mentioned in the Vedic Texts. Circumbulation of the city was as important in history so one of the oldest structures is found in these areas falling in Panchkoshi Road. The architectural features along the Panchakoshi Road show the myriad natures of the city & different life styles of the social city.
Water Bodies (Lakes) of The City: - The city is known by another name Anandavan, as it used to be a place of numerous forests & reservoirs. Basically the city was a place of spirituality where ancient priests used to penance in between forests. They are in numbers as Durgakund, Suryakund, LakshamiKund, Pushkar Talab, Motijheel etc. Poor management by the municipality is the whole sole responsibility of these sights not in the itinerary of the tourists.
Markets of Ancient Antiquity: - Varanasi was not only a place of spirituality as geographically its strategic location gave it an important place in ancient trade route. As river transportation was the main route for the traders to take their goods from one place to another, Varanasi was in the middle of this trade route & place to cross the river Gaga as well. Traders coming from far west used to trade their goods at Varanasi or load or unload their goods here. This unique trade point was Rajghat area where still in the Britishers time made the iron bridge because it’s the most convenient place to cross the river in any season. This market is still the biggest market of goods of different kinds in the city & has the unique charm of ancient and medieval market.
Villages nearby City: - As Varanasi is not just a city of any general importance in sense or comparison of any other places in the world. Its uniqueness lies in the soothing cosmological geography of the city as highlighted in different researches. Here tourists comes in search of peace & rejuvenate their mind & soul for further journey of their life. Nearby villages of the city are not so distant and still has the soothing greenery of the old city. These villages can be developed as centres of Yogic practices & at the same time can be utilized for other relaxation purposes.
Suggestions
Planned Development of Infrastructure- As the city stands among the dire needs of infrastructural development. Few pockets of city chiefly the old area has minor scope of vast development but maintenance is required in proper manner. Vehicles should be restricted in these areas with only walking possible. Areas are not spanning more than few kilometers in distance so walking could be the most convenient way of transportation. Other parts need minute observation before making robust constructions.
Planned Development of Town- Municipality Corporation of Varanasi has lots to answer regarding this as they lack in quick action towards illegal developments. Once these parts are developed its really hard to demolish them. So initial inquiries should be quick & constructions should be stopped in the primary faze. No construction can’t be developed without proper evaluations as such.
Communities Construction Development- Communities celebrations of different sorts should be promoted in big manner. As no such activity is initiated by the authorities. Each festival should be participated at different locations so as to avoid management problems of the city. Once these centers are built it will be convenient for the authority and people of the city as well.
Cleanliness of the city- As city is so important in any aspect so the cleanliness of the city should be the responsibility of all. No one party either people or Municipality Corporation can avoid this. Both should work in cooperation to make the city clean.
Proper Development of Landmarks- All landmarks in city are so important in each context. Its not a matter of few selected monuments that are important enough to pay all attention. Landmarks like Water Bodies, Monuments, Markets etc. should get proper attention by the municipality. Their development should be such managed that new recreational activity should be laid down to the city dwellers. This will surely transform the city nature from deadliness to new findings.
Green Belts Development- Green belts should be developed in the areas where new constructions are going on. It should be mandatory for the developers to plant certain number of trees in their areas if they are willing to develop new buildings in these areas. Firm scrutiny should be done on authority part so no untoward development can take place.
Old construction conservation- Building residing in old parts of the city should not be distorted in any manner by the owners. Minion modification can be done only on few aspects of the buildings but even with certain norms so not to change the original structure of the buildings at all. If required many of the properties where number of owners play card to let the structure demolish with the weather of time so to acquire prime land for modern development should be stopped and their management in certain way should be done by the municipality. These will a change the nature of the owners not to demolish buildings to money motives.
Conclusion- Efforts are dynamic in nature rather static. So each individual living in this oldest living city of world should participate in a manner to uphold the sanctity of the city. Its not a big ask hard to achieve with proper scrutiny by the law makers. The city can present a unique example where all the amenities of modernity can prevail in the shadow of ancient light. This could be the prospect of Varanasi in new era of development.
Reference:
1- Sherring. M.A.( 1868), ‘ Banaras The Sacred City of The Hindus’. Low Price Publications- New Delhi.
2- Advance with Kyoto, A City With Multi-Layered Culture (2014). New Industry Promotion Office, Industry & Tourism Bureau of City of Kyoto.
