Mridul Podder & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Aug 5: The Burmese Buddhist Shrine located at Ponghy Kyaung area is one of the three Burmese Buddhist Shrines located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Buddhist temple was constructed in the year 1936 when Andaman and Nicobar Islands had huge Burmese population.
Today after 77 years after its construction the temple rests in a dilapidated condition. Take walk through the unplanned crowded streets of Ponghy Kyaung to reach the temple the first thing one will notice is the dangerous pathway covered with mosses which may even pull down and kill a visitor.
The next dangerous thing that visitors notice is the shed covering the path. The shed is made out of tin sheets and wood, the wood is probably half a century old and presently does not possess the required strength to hold the sheets properly.
Inside the temple premises, there is a half hanging boundary wall which can anytime fall on the adjacent land and cause damage to the life and the property. The outer wooden shed of the shrine is a century old too and is broken all over with wooden pieces hanging out from every portion. Adding to this, naked electric wires spread all over the shrine, which shows the level of negligence.
The switch boards especially the main switch, hanging on a pillar can anytime cause short circuit which may result in a fire accident which in turn can easily spread all over the heavily crowded Ponghy Kyaung area. The sacred Burmese Buddhist Shrine now serves as a night club for the local youngsters who play cards and have a good time enjoying inside the premises of the shrine.
Andaman Sheekha met Mr. V. Ravichandran, Secretary, Burmese Buddhist Mission, which is the responsible authority for the maintenance of all the three Buddhist Shrines in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. When asked about the problem he said that the organization lacks adequate funds to maintain the shrine.
He further informed us that he had come to know from certain sources that one of the countries sends regular funds to the Administration for the maintenance of the Burmese Buddhist Shrine but until today he has not received a single penny from the Administration towards the maintenance of the Shrine.
Mr. Ravichandarn further informed that the rent obtained through the property belonging to the Burmese Buddhist Mission is also very less and because of which he in unable to collect adequate amount for the maintenance of the shrine.
Mr. Ravichandarn added that the temple was pretty famous till it was in good condition but over the last two decades the temple lost its charm and remains without devotees nowadays. Mr. Ravichandarn now seeks help from the Administration and the Govt. of India for the maintenance of the Buddhist Shrine so that the religious heritage is preserved and kept safely for the future generations to come.
The Andaman Nicobar Administration and the Lt. Governor should look into the matter and visit the Burmeese Buddhist Shrine and order for its maintenance. There is also a need to preserve the heritage Shrine.
