Those who fail to preserve history cannot protect the future, says social activist Medha Patkar.
She was speaking after visiting the Jewish synagogue at Mala on Monday.
The 1,000-year-old synagogue and cemetery are the only remaining monuments of the rich Jewish culture at Mala. There were 30 graves in the cemetery, but only three of them are existing now following encroachments.
“The skyrocketing price of land in the middle of the town is the cause of encroachments. In India, land has become costlier than gold. If we fail to protect these monuments now, we will never be able to preserve them,” Ms. Patkar said.
All the construction works going on at the cemetery should be stopped, she said.
“The panchayat authorities of Mala have the responsibility to keep the promises given to the Jews who handed over their land and monuments to them. Like nature, air, and water, the heritage structures also should be preserved and handed over to the next generation,” she said.
Before leaving to Israel in 1955, the Jewish representatives signed a contract with the then Mala panchayat for the protection of the monuments.
The monuments were handed over to the panchayat for preserving them. However, all contract terms were violated by the panchayat, according to Mala Paithruka Samrakshana Samiti leaders.
“The synagogue and the cemetery should be protected. The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) will discuss the issue and will lead the agitation for the protection of the monuments,” she said.
