As preparations are being stepped up for the Krishnadevaraya Utsava to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Krishnadevaraya as Vijayanagara’s king, Kannada literary scholar and historian M Chidananda Murthy has urged the government to take up measures to preserve and enrich the heritage of Hampi, which was the empire’s capital. He tells Sunitha Rao R that people visiting Hampi should keep in mind that they were at not just a tourist place but a sacred centre with a glorious heritage.
What do you think should be done to make Hampi one of the must-visit heritage sites in the world? What must be done to preserve its heritage?
The government should implement a dress code in Hampi. Foreigners with a different lifestyle have been influencing the local population. It is not a tourist place like Goa. It is a heritage site and demands certain code of conduct. The ‘hippies’ visiting the place make the native children supply ganja and other drugs to them. The kids start consuming those drugs and get addicted to it. It is detrimental to society. Yet, the locale police have not taken initiatives to stop the illegal activity at the place.
You are anguished by the neglect of several monuments in Hampi. Do you have any plans for the Krishnadevaraya Utsava to make the state act?
The three-day utsava is being planned well by the government. On January 28, scholars will present papers on various issues related to the culture and heritage of the region. Lectures given during the utsava must be compiled in the form of a book.
How is that an auction centre is operating inside the Virupaksha temple?
Unfortunately, the centre is still in operation. One-and-a-half years ago, I had written to the Hampi Development Authority to stop the auctions inside the temple and also to make sure that the public left their footwear outside before entering the temple. But no action has been taken to stop this. I had also sent a copy of the letter to the chief minister to bring it to his notice.
Since Unesco has declared Hampi a World Heritage site, why don’t you draw its attention to the problem and pressure the government to take some action?
I will be visiting Hampi during the Krishnadevaraya Utsava. If I find that these menace still exist, I will write to Unesco.
Which are the monuments that have been damaged and face the threat of destruction?
Purandhara Mantapa, the Eranna Gudi, Vittala temple and many other monuments have been encroached upon. The encroachments must be cleared. There is a historical rock with notes on Krishnadevaraya’s wife Thirumala Devi. This rock has been destroyed, as the Hospet MLA is constructing a guest house at the site. People have been destroying monuments in Hampi in the hope of striking treasures believed to be hidden in some of them.
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