Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh has sounded an urgent alarm over the deteriorating condition of the historic Jagatjit Palace, which currently houses the prestigious Sainik School in Kapurthala. The governor, who is an alumnus of the school, raised the concern during his visit to attend the institution's annual function on December 19.
An Alumnus's Distressing Discovery
During a detailed inspection of the school premises accompanied by army officers, Governor Singh expressed serious worry about the structural safety of the majestic palace and the cadets' hostels. The iconic building, once the residence of the Kapurthala royalty and modelled on France's Palace of Versailles, is showing significant signs of decay.
The governor later committed to taking up the pressing issue directly with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He aims to personally apprise them of the unsafe conditions threatening the heritage structure and the students' living quarters.
A Legacy Ravaged by Time and Neglect
The plight of the building is not a new development. Around two months ago, following the monsoon season, a team of district officials inspected the palace and hostels. Their findings confirmed extensive damage and water seepage in several sections caused by heavy rains.
School authorities have persistently flagged the need for repair and restoration to the Punjab government. However, the state government maintains that it has received no response to a proposal sent to the Ministry of Defence over a year ago regarding the construction of a new building within the same complex.
The cultural heritage watchdog, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), has also stepped in. In April this year, INTACH's Punjab chapter wrote to the state government, urging immediate attention to preserve the palace building, its precious artefacts, and paintings, which are deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance.
INTACH's Detailed Plan Awaits Response
Major General Balwinder Singh (retd), the convener of INTACH Punjab, revealed that the trust had prepared and submitted a comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR) approximately two years ago to the Sainik School Society. "We have yet to get a response to that DPR," he stated.
He explained that while INTACH had previously undertaken restoration on a very limited scale, a large-scale intervention is now critically needed. "We have regularly flagged this issue and conveyed that the repair and restoration work can be given to us and done in a phased manner," Maj Gen Singh added. The trust is also prepared to take on the complete maintenance of the valuable artefacts and paintings housed within the palace.
The ongoing situation presents a dual crisis: the safety of the cadets and staff residing in the compromised hostels, and the irreversible loss of a significant piece of Punjab's and India's architectural heritage. The governor's intervention has brought renewed hope for urgent action to save the grand Jagatjit Palace from further ruin.
