Gift of God Destroyed by Human
Nahakul K.C.[1]
I visited to Bamyan for my
official mission on 3rd week of July 2012. The objectives of the
mission were to observe and monitor ongoing programme activities which is
implementing by National Area based Development Programme (NABDP). In this
article aim is to share my personnel observation about one of the very
historical place; shape of deity Budhha’s in Bamyan centre and naturally
beautiful places Bande E Aamir Lake and Satu Mountains of Yaklawang and Punjab
districts of Bamyan.
Before arrival to Afghanistan,
Bamyan and Kandahar were my dream place to visit. I was so fascinating to know
about brave Pathan “Pashtu’s” in Kandahar. Kashmiri Pakistani hijackers were
hijacked an Air Bus of Air India from Kathmandu and brought to Kandahar. Due to
these reasons I was keen to visit in these two places respectively. I was so
interested to see the breaker of an idol or image of Buddha’s was destroyed by
the Taliban in 2001. Buddha was born and grown up in Nepal and letter on when
he had knowledge and wisdom he moved to India and letter on his ideology was
spread out in all over the world. I was so eager to see myself Monuments of
Buddhhas, nearby caves where more than 5000 Monks were used to stay. It can be
counted as “Valley of God”.
The Monumental Buddha statues of
Bamyan were until their destruction, one of the best known historic and
cultural sights of Afghanistan carved from the cliff in the early 6th
and 7th centuries AD, the date to an era when Buddhism was an
dominant religion in the region and when Bamyan was in important centre of
trade route between China, Europe and India and Central Asia. The Astern Buddha
(38 mit. high) was craved first, in the middle of the 6th century
and the western Buddha (55 mit. high) in the early 7th century. The
statuses were once brightly decorated. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuan Zang,
who visited Bamyan in about AD 630, recorded the first description of the
Buddhas. He wrote that the large Buddha’s “golden hues sparkle on every side
and its precious ornaments dazzle the eyes by their brightness.” The hundreds
of hereby caves were used by monks and were once decorated with elaborated wall
paintings. The Buddha’s were destroyed by the Taleban authority in 2001.
(UNESCO)
In reality dismantle of Buddha’s
monument was started from earlier Islamic kings. As per local residents it was
and historical photos shows giant Buddha was leg and partial part of the face destroyed
in 18th century. The Taliban claimed that the local Hazara community
are not Islam. They claimed these monuments looks like Hazara and destroyed in
March 2001.
I observed along with my office
colleagues and climb up to second largest Buddha. Now there are all empty
monuments but it is pretty clear shape. I observed amazing architect and
designing of those caves in such places like Bamyan. It was a civilization
which shows great historical link up with Alexander and Genghis Khan, who were
used to travel through this trade silk route. There is strong belief that,
there is 300 mitre sleeping Buddha’s monuments is lying down. Dr. Tarzi
renounced archaeologist start to renovate and explore sleeping monument. I hope
this will be found out in near future. Right now this renovations works is
stopped. More than three decades war of the Afghanistan, it destroyed
fascinating history and culture of the country.
I observed virgin lake called
Band E Aamir, which I did not know before coming to Afghanistan. This is
located around 120 KM west of Bamyan centre and having good connectivity to
reach to lake. The Islamic Republic of Government of Afghanistan in year 2009
declared first National Park. It was glad to know that this park was
technically supported by Nepali forester Mr. Uday Raj Sharma. There are
beautiful seven lakes, which are located north to west. The natural spring
water makes everyone to fulfil their thrust. Government is providing basic
facilities for boating in the lake site. The blue and crystal clear water you
can see up to deep of the lake. It’s “God Gifted” places. Local communities are
managing motel and resorts with basic facilities. If you are beginners of
writing your poems or novel, you will please to think or write something. There
is beautiful and wonder palace called ‘Dragon valley’ where you can observe
about the sulphur water is coming from the cave of stones in the small peak of
mountains. Local people have beliefs that, it came from the mouth of Dragon.
There could be study site for zoologist students. When I visited these three
places, I feel the Bamyan is “Gift of God destroyed by Human”.
I visited rural site of the
province Yakalawang, Punjab and Waras districts. There is huge pasture land and
thin and scattered settlement which is hard to provide basic facilities to the
rural people. It seems some hope is reaching to their villages. Now schools are
opening, girls and boys are going to school. Pave roads are operating Dubai and
Pakistani sold second hand vehicles. MRRD is supporting to culverts, bridges,
drinking water supply and more importantly micro hydro power projects. In
Bamyan there is very encouraging active participation of women were observed in
the local institutions like; District Development Assemblies (DDAs) and
Community Development Councils (CDCs).
Bamyan is one of the highest
potential for domestic and international tourism. The proposed national highway
may open more opportunities to the local people for promotion tourism and
development but main question is Peace and stability. Peace which Buddha advocates
in his whole life and his millions of followers are following nowadays as well,
it required to Afghan people as well. Only Peaceful Afghanistan can move for
further betterment of its citizens.
[1]
. Nahakul KC is development worker, and
working for Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/UNDP) of Afghanistan since November 2009
and this article is written based on his personnel observation of Bamyan visit
from 17th to 22nd July 2012.
