The old Tehri town that was a bustling center of the Garhwal monarchy, may have been reduced to the pages of history and submerged in the waters of Tehri Lake that was build to cater to mega Tehri Hydro project but the culture lover from Rani Chauri has been able to restore and preserve many historical artifacts including arms and ammunition, prevalent coins, stamp papers, manuscripts, hand written letters of the Maharaja of Tehri that are creating a sense of nostalgia among the people.
Then Maharajah Sudarshan Shah of Tehri state laid the foundation of the Tehri town in December 1815. On 29th October 2005, the town was submerged in lake. The people saddened at its submersion still have fond memories of the town and are deeply connected and these artifacts bring back the memories of the old Tehri have been deeply connected with the people.
These artifacts of Tehri state have been preserved in Ranichuari near Chamba by a Purana Darbar Trust President Bhawani Pratap Singh who had collected the artifacts from various Palaces and preserved them at the small room near his place. The collecting consists of arms, war materials, coins, handwritten letters, stamp papers, textiles, manuscripts, and utensils of the Maharajas. Not only that, in his treasure, Maharaja Ajay Pal’s ashta metal Patha, the handwritten book of Maharaja Fateh Shah and a rare compilation of hand-written poetry book of Guru Gobind Singh titled Vichitra Natak along with the hand written book of Maharaja Sudarshan Shah. At the same time the photographs of Garhwal and the staff of renowned saint Paramhans Swami Ramtirtha, the guru of Tehri Royals are also the part of the collection here.
Thakur Bhawani Pratap Singh says that the work of historical heritage collection is being done with the inspiration of the ancestors. He has been demanding a museum to showcase these rare royal artifacts but his demand has fallen on deaf ears
He said a museum is being needed for a long time to cherish the historical heritage of the old Tehri city. “The city had a distinct historical and cultural tradition. The museum will be way for people to reconnect to their roots”, Pratap Singh observed.
Monday, 28 December 2020 | PNS | New Tehri
