Stupa at risk of destruction in Kot Sirani

Karachi

A precious stupa in the historic Buddhist site of Kot Sirani, near New Jatoi, Naushero Feroz has been destroyed by local influentials and villagers, The News has learnt.

Idrees Jatoi, founding member of Kot Sirani Yadgar Committee, told The News that many have occupied the historic site of Kot Sirani and have even started cultivation at the site. This process, he argued, was detrimental to the preservation of this heritage, as a team of eminent archaeologists had found signs of three different historical eras in the site.

Jatoi narrated that his organisation had invited senior archaeological experts, including former Archaeology Department director, Syed Hakim Ali Shah, to assess the historical importance of the site. Emphasising the need for excavation to learn more about history, the team made some recommendations, which were then sent to the governmental department concerned. However, he said, no response had been received from the government as yet. He also added that the team took with them some broken bricks and pieces of stupa for further research, but had not returned to the site.

Located on the left bank of the River Indus, the oldest Buddhist site covers more than five-acre of land, while the stupa is place in the middle of a wide courtyard. The height of muddy walls is over 10 feet, while the surrounding four gates and watch towers have almost been ruined due to the indifferent attitude of the government departments concerned.

Jatoi said that the stupa is similar to the one at Moenjodaro, which has three tall towers. The height of the stupa in Kot Sirani is above 50feet, and there are signs of broken stairs that led to the apex.

Although some parts of the oldest stupa have been ruined due to negligence, the remaining parts can still be protected, he suggested. “If they neglect it for more time, we might be unable to find any sign to identify its origin and history,” he said.

The Buddhist

site discovered in Kot Sirani is said to be the newest discovered. The others include Siraj Jee Takri near Peer Ubhan Shah, Khairpur district, Kartar Bhit, Sukkur district, Bistoi Bhit near Sikandarabad, Sukkur district, Purani Sangrar, Rohri Sukkur district, Dhamrah Jo Daro, Baddah, Larkano district, Purano Dero, Larkana District, Shahpur Jamali Mound, Shahdadkot district, Stupa Mir Rukin, Nawabshah district and Kafir Kot, Jhirk, Thatta district.

According to Jatoi, some local influentials had taken pieces of historical stupa and decorated them in their houses. He added that worryingly, this practice is going on in blatant disregard to history. He said that while there are no more Buddhists living in the province, the remains of their old settlements are scattered in several areas. However, the lack of initiating repairs as well as the impact of rain have caused major damage to the Kot Sirani stupa and the walls of the muddy fort.

People with a keen interest in history meanwhile believe that there might be more such sites, and thus, there is a need for adequate work to be carried out by the authorities concerned. Mastoor Fatima Bokhari of Archeological Department in her research claims that the early history of Sindh starts with Buddhist period. This description speaks of the great followers of the Buddha in Sindh. and also characterises the sect of Buddhism. Monks are said to dwell in desert, mountains, forests, and Buddhism thus spread out from the eastern desert to mountainous Kirthar.

Local people living in the neighbourhood have more strange tales about the fort, saying they used to be frightened to enter the “ghost place”. But after floods, some families found the place safe and attracted others to live there.

Kot Sirani Yadgar Committee activists have now convinced primary school teachers, who had collected some precious pieces in the school premises, to undertake further research. The committee, however, wants the government officials concerned to take protective actions. For this, the committee maintains, a camp office should be set up and an expert and a permanent watchmen deployed there to avoid the misuse of historical items and save it from illegal occupation. Establishing a small museum to protect these things is also a must, added Jatoi.