Haryana
... a cradle of ancient civilizations
Freedom Fighter's Trail | Rakhigarhi | Kurukshetra | Narnaul
Freedom Fighter's Trail
(2010)
Undertaking an extensive and intensive tour of Haryana, covering its 21 districts and numerous towns, our team set out to research and formulate a Freedom Fighter's trail. Our work entailed Research, Documentation and Listing of sites for INTACH, with respect to people, events, locations and monuments related to the freddom struggle of India. As we travelled across the length and breadth of Haryana, we came to realize that here lies much more profound glory than meets the eye of public at large. The state, being so close to the Capital, is unjustly overlooked while travelers from all across look to carry out expeditions to places of heritage in states around Delhi. Travelling on a bike to enhance all receptive interactions, as many a travelers prefer, we got acquainted to the Soul of Haryana and were overcome by a profound desire to bring the state forth in its true and beautiful colours as justly it deserves.
Haryana is
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Haryana'a contributions to the freedom struggle of India remains grossly unacknowledged and unreported to this day. Village elders recounted tales and legends of Sir Chotu Ram, Rao Tula Ram, Birasat Ali, Rao Kishan Singh, Sabar Khan and other greats. People add with a shudder that the streets ran red with blood in Hansi, as it witnessed mass killings and bloodbaths during the 1857 struggle for freedom. Shaheed Hukum Chand Jain, Mirja Muneer Beig and their associates were tortured and killed, some hanged, some nailed and some even crushed to death by the British forces at the Barsi Gate. Yet paradoxically, Col. James Skinner(1778-1841), who was given the Jagir of Hansi in 1818 was lovingly called Sikandar Saheb by the natives and had his residence and estate in Hansi. During the ensuing struggle, even ancient Temples, like the Shiva Temple at Kalayat in Jind, became a refuge for freedom fighters, as the ashram took them in as their own to keep them from harm. With countless more such extraordinary people and events still secure in it's heart, it is time Haryana reaches out for an eager ear.
Rakhigarhi
(2013 - )
The twin villages of Rakhi Shahpur and Rakhi Khas, in Hisar District, together comprise the Rakhigarhi archaeological excavation site. Located 145 kms from Delhi and currently under excavation, Rakhigarhi shows indications of being the largest and oldest Indus Valley Civilization site yet known, perhaps pre-dating Mohenjo- Daro by as much as a thousand years.
The village is also home to a charming plethora of historical structures from the 18th and 19th century with a strong Mughal architectural influence. An ornate old-world appeal is abounding in its rustic narrow pathways. Quaint and decrepit, they graciously play host to the rising global interest and attention. The prospective scope of this site towards becoming a major tourism hub lies in the great communion of its grand past with its humbler yet vibrant rural present, the two having cohabited and thrived through the vagaries of time.
Tadaamyaham has been involved with Rakhigarhi's comprehensive documentation, development and conservation plans in various capacities, since Oct 2013. ITRHD, a highly esteemed organization spearheading the rural and heritage development works in Rakhigarhi, entrusted our team with the task of creating a detailed documentation of the twin villages along with plans and proposals for rural development in the region. The Detailed Project Report thus created by Tadaamyaham team, after extensive field surveys and village community interactions, elaborated schemes for rural development with respect to Drinking Water, Primary Health Care, Sanitation, Skill Development, Women Empowerment, Vocational Training, Tourism and Hospitality Training, Computer Training, Tailoring Courses, Youth Core Group, Village Infrastructure Development, Solar Energy, Home Stays, etc. The relative outcomes and impact of these schemes, for both the village community and prospective tourists, were also duly worked out. Consecutively, ITRHD sent the DPR (73 pages) to Reliance Foundation for funding and recieved an in-principle approval for the same.
Rakhigarhi : Integrated Project Report and Proposals for Development
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Survey and Interviews at Rakhigarhi, for Global Heritage Fund & Blackfreighter Archaeology and Conservation
 Village Community Baithak at Badi Chaupal |  Satbir Malik, Ex- Village Sarpanch |
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 Basha Ram, Farmer |  Basha Ram |
 Ram Kumar Pandit, Farmer |  Jiley Singh Mistry, Carpenter |
 Baithak at Badi Chaupal |
In Feb-March 2014, after discussions, GHF, Blackfreighter and ITRHD, decided to draw out initial concepts for a heritage complex to be envisaged as a Tourist Interpretation Centre in Rakhigarhi. The Tadaamyaham Team was roped in to conduct a survey to research historical background, village community sentiments and possibility of involving local traditional skills for a feasibility analysis of setting up the complex. This study was also conducted to help pitch the project for funding by various international organizations. Our team coducted extensive field research and interviews with village elders for this purpose, as a result of which, a concept plan for the development of the heritage complex was drawn up.
Tadaamyaham's work in Rakhigarhi, by way of articles and photographs, have been published in "Rural India" Magazine and Sunday Guardian Newspaper, apart from presentations at seminars and workshops.
Featured work in News and Magazine Articles
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Narnaul
(2011)
Birbal ka Chatta / Chatta Rai Bal Mukund Das is a large palace built by Rai Bal Mukund Das, the Diwan (Prime Minister) of Narnaul during Emperor Shah Jahan’s reign. This five-storey building has several halls, rooms and pavilions, and the Diwan-e-Khas (inner chambers), although now with most of its roof having caved in, it is in immediate need of restoration. Fountains and springs kept the building cool in its glory days. Underground tunnels ran to various cities like Delhi and Jaipur from it's many basements.
Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of Haryana and INTACH Haryana deployed our team to carry out the First Phase of Documentation of the structure which included audio visual and photo documentation of the structure and its surroundings. This was presented to the Govt. of Haryana for development of Conservation & Action Plans.
7th Century Buddhist Monastery
Kurukshetra
(2011)
Inside the premises of Kurukshetra University, upon excavation by archaeologists, a mound revealed the spectacular site of an Ancient Buddhist Stupa and Monastery. The stupa was built near Brahma-sarovar around the 7th Century AD during emperor Harshvardhana's reign. Buddhism gained great importance during the reign of king Harshavardhana. It was Buddha himself who brought the faith to Kurukshetra where he delivered his discourses in Thullakotthita and Kamasadamma identified by historians as Thanesar and Kaithal.
Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of Haryana and INTACH Haryana deployed our team to carry out the First Phase of Documentation of the structure which included audio visual and photo documentation of the structure and its surroundings. This was presented to the Govt. of Haryana for development of Excavation & Action Plans.