| Temples & Legends Of Somanatha |
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| Temples & Legends Of India |
APPENDIX |
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| Munshi
was associated with the reconstruction scheme from the very beginning. In fact Sardar
relied on him to translate the idea into reality. But he had to meet with opposition from
unexpected quarters. In the beginning, some persons, more fond of dead stones than live values, pressed the point of view that the ruins of the old temple should be maintained as an ancient monument. Munshi was, however, firm in his opinion, that the temple of Somanatha was not just an ancient monument; it lived in the sentiments of the whole nation and its reconstruction was a national pledge. Its preservation was not a mere matter of his torical curiosity. Some of his scholar friends had hard things to say about Munshi for his 'vandalism'. They forgot that while he is fond of history, he is fonder still of creative values. When the question was pressed by the Archaeological Department, Sardar expressed his views as follows: "The Hindu sentiment in regard to this temple is both strong and widespread. In the present conditions, it is unlikely that that sentiment will be satisfied by mere restoration of the temple or by prolonging its life. The restoration of the idol would be a point of honour and sentiment with the Hindu public." |
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