Narmada is the life-giving river of Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. Narmada river makes the state green with its clean and cool streams. Jabalpur is situated on the banks of this holy river. A city, whose every heartbeat reflects the echo of history and a deep imprint of culture. After the Kalchuri dynasty, Jabalpur was enriched by the Gond dynasties. The Madan Mahal fort in Jabalpur is a symbol of the ancient heritage of the city along with Gond era architecture and historical importance. Queen Durgavati of Gondwana made excellent water arrangements in Jabalpur and the surrounding areas. 52 ponds and 72 lakes were built in Jabalpur alone. The queen also built many stepwells. Due to all this, Jabalpur never had to face water crisis or famine. These stepwells were built in the Gond era of the sixteenth century. These stepwells not only solved the water crisis but were also the center of social work.
But the wheel of time turned in such a way that the shine of these stepwells started fading. In the race of modernity, people stopped paying attention to them. Slowly, their existence started coming under threat. Not only did the stepwells start getting dilapidated, but some of them even turned into heaps of garbage. This ancient heritage had now not only turned into ruins but it was as if the garbage of the entire city had accumulated here. Jabalpur, which is situated on the banks of the Narmada river, and which had inherited the legacy of Gond era water management, started facing water crisis and problems. Seeing this, the then Jabalpur MP and current Public Works Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rakesh Singh, started a ‘Water Conservation Campaign’ fifteen years ago. In this campaign, he did many things, from public awareness to urging for water seepage into the ground. Rakesh Singh saw the Gond era stepwells, which were once prosperous stepwells but had now turned into ruins. He decided that he would himself start the work of repairing these stepwells and complete it with the help of the entire society. For this he launched a big public campaign in the whole of Jabalpur. In this campaign all the people of the society together cleaned the stepwells.
Rakesh Singh personally monitored the project and ensured that quality and authenticity was maintained at every step. He formed a team of experts, which included historians, archaeology and architecture experts. First of all, he got a detailed survey of these stepwells done. Keeping in mind their historical importance, he prepared a blueprint for redevelopment. In this, every small thing was taken care of, like the basic structure of the stepwells, their carvings and water storage techniques. The structure of these stepwells is amazing, which reflects the excellence of architecture. The winding stairs and beautiful carved walls built around them further enhance its grandeur. These stepwells were not only for water storage, but were also important from cultural and social point of view.
Jal Mandir was named on the suggestion of Prime Minister Modi
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to know about Rakesh Singh’s ‘Bawdi Swachhta Abhiyan’, he appreciated his unique contribution. He also tweeted about this campaign. In a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Rakesh Singh asked him, ‘What else should be done to keep the Bawdis always clean?’ So the Prime Minister suggested that ‘Bawdis should be developed as Jal Mandir. This name also increases the dignity and importance of this heritage’. On the suggestion of Prime Minister Modi, these redeveloped Bawdis were named ‘Jal Mandir’.
People from all over the country and abroad will come to see the stepwells of Jabalpur
Padma Shri Dr. Mahesh Sharma, while addressing the program organized on the occasion of the inauguration of Radhakrishna Bawdi located in Gadha, Jabalpur, said that I work in the field of water conservation in the tribal dominated area of Jhabua. People come from far and wide to see that work, but now I will tell people that if you want to see the work of water conservation, then definitely go to Jabalpur. Because understanding the importance of water, Rakesh Singh has taken up the task of renovating the historical and ancient Bawdis which were filled with dirt and mud and has restored them as Jal Mandir. This is exemplary for everyone. Certainly, in the coming time, people from the country and abroad will come to see the Bawdis of Jabalpur. The people of Jabalpur are seeing with their own eyes the pits filled with mud becoming Jal Mandir and at the same time there will be many Bawdis, reservoirs and water sources all over India which are waiting for such efforts. Rakesh Singh went ahead and made positive efforts and all of you worked shoulder to shoulder with him, the result of which are these two Bawdis of Jabalpur. This is not just two but it is an inspiration for everyone in India who has compassion in their hearts.
Work done with the vision of 100 years
Giving a speech is an easy task but getting into a pit filled with mud and dirt and tolerating the stench to relieve the pain of others is not an easy task. Your position, prestige, honour and respect do not compel you to do this work. When a person comes into politics, he thinks of only five years but Rakesh Singh’s resolution is to keep these stepwells alive for the next 100 years. State Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, who had come to Jabalpur for Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan, reached Radhakrishna Bavli Gadha and saw this work and after seeing the transformation of the stepwell, praised the work of water promotion and conservation done by Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh and said that this work is amazing and inspiring. We all should take inspiration from this.
Initiative of Jabarpur MP Rakesh Singh
Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh said that when he became an MP and saw the ancient sources of water getting depleted, it came to his mind that he should work towards water conservation. Then he started working in this direction, in which he did a 20-day long Jal Raksha Yatra in 2009, which went on in the entire parliamentary constituency. But he knew that only Jal Raksha Yatra is not enough. Even after this, every year I continued to do public awareness work for water conservation along with everyone, which included cleaning of ponds, construction of Gravedian Dam in Gomukh near Barela, cleaning Sangram Sagar and developing it as a tourist destination, organizing seminars for public awareness, etc. During that time, it came to my mind that there are historical stepwells of the era of Maa Rani Durgavati in Jabalpur, in which when I saw Radhakrishna stepwell located in Garha area and Ujar Purva stepwell located in Baldevbagh, I felt that they should be revived. For this, I did Shramdaan along with BJP workers and local people.
Rakesh Singh’s Shramdaan was such that he himself went to clean one such step well with his workers. He himself entered the garbage heap and started the cleaning campaign. Rakesh Singh told News 18 that when he used to return home after such cleaning, the bathroom of his house used to be filled with stench and dirt. But gradually the whole society started supporting him. And now clean drinking water has started being found in these step wells. That is, now this Jal Mandir is not only a water source but has also become a cultural heritage and a center of attraction for tourists. The local people here, especially the children, are playing an important role in the care of these Jal Mandirs. These children have installed a bicycle stand here, and are fulfilling the needs of the step wells with the money received from it.
Former MP and now Public Works Minister of the state Rakesh Singh is now planning to make permanent arrangements for the maintenance of these stepwells. Today these Jal Mandirs of Jabalpur are not just sources of water but have become a symbol of social unity. Local children and communities are engaged in preserving and protecting them. To make PM Modi’s dream of Jal Mandir a reality, Madhya Pradesh Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh worked in mission mode. He believes that this is just a beginning. But it is also certain that in the coming times, these Jal Mandirs will become the protectors of our cultural heritage.
Tags: Jabalpur news
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 14, 2024, 22:03 IST
