How would you react if somebody tells you that the Taj Mahal is no more? Or all Stupas in Bodhgaya have disappeared? Or any other monument of any value has been decimated? I will be shocked to the core and I believe you will share the same feeling as well. The destruction carried out by ISIS in the Iraqi city of Nimrud is beyond any known expression of grief and utter nonsense. They have not only belittled the people of Iraq but also inflicted a colossal damage to the World Culture and Heritage.
All the standing artifacts, structures and layouts of the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire have been bulldozed. All the magnificence of the past that belong to Nimrud has been erased. Yes, some of them has been preserved earlier elsewhere but the loss is irrecoverable. There used to be statues and walls and a citadel which ISIS has leveled to the ground. Other tangible valuables have been looted.
Nimrud was the capital of the world's first empire, the Neo-Assyrian Empire of the 1st millennium BC. Lying 35km (22 miles) south of the modern city of Mosul in
north Iraq, Nimrud covers some 3.5 sq km (1.35 sq miles), with a
prominent "citadel" mound within the city walls, on which are clustered
the main administrative and religious buildings. These buildings include the enormous palaces of several
Assyrian kings and the temples of Ninurta, the god of war, and of Nabu,
the god of writing.
I am deeply saddened, a state which can not be put into words. This is not the first time the Culture and History of a place has been put to the sword. In 2001, Taliban blew away the Bamian Budha. In 2013, retreating Islamist insurgents set fire to a library containing thousands of historic manuscripts, some of them dating back to 13th century. Both of these devastation events took away forever a very invaluable piece of our history.
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| Taller Sasal Budha in 1963 on left and after destruction in 2008 |
Why should we worry about history? Well, the most pragmatic planning of future as well as immediate present can be done only on the basis of analyzing what occurred in the past and how. A past that tells us about the spread and acceptance of cultural beliefs and practices across the globe from the place of their birth. To think that Islam and Buddhism would have flourished together in ancient Afghanistan is so encouraging and strength-giving against the clash of religions. The same is the case in Iraq. The Mesopotamia of the old was a treasure trove and a world pioneer in so many things. It had rulers and subjects who cared for and assimilated faiths from across the world. A great reinforcer of the fact the myriad groups of people can peacefully coexist.
Needless to say, the historical insights into how people and culture and they clicked is so much useful in finding solutions to similar present day problems. The versatility and innovation of the past when combined with Science of today can work wonders to many small and big problems alike. The preservation of once lineage and culture through idols, sculptures, manuscripts, paintings and other forms of artwork guides us about the importance of doing and highlighting all things good for future generations to embrace and learn from.
It is true that ISIS has floored Nimrud not only for their stand against all things which they believe is non-Islamic but also for selling those priceless artifacts in black market. Their major income is from the sale of these stolen goods and belongings. All the ancient antiquities in their purview is under serious threat of being led to the same fate as Nimrud in days to come. They are unbelievably insane.
The topic of rise and flourish of ISIS and all the negativity surrounding Islam can be dealt elsewhere. We are concerned here about losing a big share of our history in West Asia because of these religious bigots gaining ascendance every passing day. Will we see any sort of clamp down from their current position in coming days?
