The Hindu Temple: Where the Imperial Gaze was Held and Challenged

Ever wondered why our ancient and medieval monuments, under protection of the Archaeological Survey of India and State archaeological departments, appear so dehumanized? Manicured lawns no one is allowed to tread upon, rows of desert palms and other exotic trees along the walkways, obscure interpretative language on bilingual signboards, exorbitant entrance fee for camera wielders and non-Indian tourists, and restrictions on offering prayer are only some of the challenges the state throws at any innocuous visitor. The way we have preserved our monuments smacks of a colonial legacy that the Archaeological Survey of India, a stubborn fossil of the imperial era, refuses to let go. Whatever conservation principles, if any, maybe at work here, what is certain is that people who built these monuments did not intend them to be used in the way they are presented to the public of today.