Culture

Jam Minaret Requires Urgent Attention

Saturday August 29, 2015

Kabul (BNA) Established in 12th AD century, the Jam minaret in Ghor province is among the UNESCO world heritages.
Due to its location in a remote valley, this priceless monument has always been ignored. Because, it situated among high mountains and access to it is difficult. This priceless relic was included in 2002 in the list of world heritages as, Francisco Barderein UNESCO Director of World Cultural Heritages Protection Center asked the UN committee for registration of world cultural heritages to tackle Afghanistan request on registration of Jam minaret quickly. According to Francisco out of four recommended relics and ancient sites, the Jam minaret owns certain peculiarities that justify its registration in the list of the world important ancient relics. UNESCO archeological experts consider Jam minaret one of the marvelous architectural and the most old brick made relics in the world. It has been said that Jam minaret represent the old architectural tradition and ancient artistic style in the region with extreme beauty. No doubt, registration of Jam minaret in the list of the world cultural heritages by UNESCO is a very good news for the cultural society of Afghanistan but at the same time a discouraging news that just next day of the registration, it was put in the list of cultural relics posing with danger of collapse that is threatening it.
Based on UNESCO official report, at present among the registered cultural relics of the world, thirty three relics are facing the danger of collapse. Although in such situations, UNESCO undertakes emergency programs to prevent their collapse and destruction of these relics, but mainly it’s the governments and countries that can guarantee successful implementation of such programs, as one of the most spectacular historical monuments of Afghanistan. The Jam minaret is the highest minarets in the world after the Qutub minaret in Delhi. Archeologists believe that inspired by Jam minaret, Qutub minaret was constructed in early 13th century AD with a height of 73 meters. The Jam minaret has been erected on the southern bank of Harirod River. This area has an altitude of over 1100 meter from the sea level. The director of Historical Monuments at the MoIC, Abdul Ahad Abbasi said, in June 2014, the retaining walls of Jam minarets were rebuilt by the MRRD. This year another supporting wall will be constructed near the Jam minaret to prevent any damage due to water over flowing. The UNESCO experts are expected to prepare a project for strengthening of Jam minaret. Last year this project was suspended due to cold weather. The UNESCO has promised to supply an electronic curvature meter machine and install it at the minaret to assess the movement measure of curvature in one year. Due to cold climate of this area, this electronic machine and water calculation machine will be installed in summer.
The head of Ghor department of information and culture, Fakhruddin Ariapoor said fortunately last year the western supporting wall of the minaret was completed with the cooperation of the MoIC and Ghor governor’s office and a suspension bridge is planned to be constructed with the cooperation of the MRRD for use of visitors. In case of a strong wind or low flight of a helicopter, the minaret shakes and all its decorations collapse. We are concerned due to curvature of the minaret. Sometimes ago the Italian ambassador, cultural deputy minister of MoIC were expected to travel to Ghor province but unfortunately due to security reasons, it was delayed and this issue was turned over to MoD authorities that promised to transform this delegation early next month to inspect the minaret. The delegation consists of senior UNICEF, UNESCO, and Italian ambassador of MoIC deputy minister for cultural affairs. We hope the rebuilding of the minaret body to be started soon and its collapse be prevented. There are several historical-cultural relics in most insecure areas of Afghanistan which are on the verge of destruction. We hope all of them would be rebuilt. Karima Malikzada 
 

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