Monuments like Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s summer palace tell stories of ancient civilisations and powerful empires. They also serve as physical evidence of a country’s history. In the 2020 ‘BBC World Histories Magazine’ poll, he was named as the ‘Greatest Leader of All Times”. He beat leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. Such was his fame and reputation.However, last week’s unsavoury developments pertaining to the vandalisation of his palace have proved that we, as a society, are failing in our duties to safeguard historical sites and monuments. Encroachers tried to construct concrete structures, which were to be later sold for a profit, at exactly the same place where the fortress is located. To their credit, Gurdaspur administration officials and the police acted with alacrity after some heritage lovers pointed out the damage and defacement.The Maharaja was recognised for creating a “golden age” for Punjab that prioritised stability, economic growth and cultural revival. The 19th-century Sikh Empire had established a secular and tolerant state and a modern army. He was also instrumental in the renovation of the Golden Temple.His palace served as his favourite retreat far away from the scorching heat of Lahore. The resort, also called Baradari for its 12 gates, actually housed his 200-man infantry unit and his artillery making it a prominent cantonment of those times.He had earned the sobriquet of ‘Sher-e-Punjab”. He is remembered not only for uniting various Sikh army factions into one powerful sovereign state but also for his effective governance. In 2010, the Punjab Government declared the site as a protected one after heritage lovers petitioned it. They claimed that historical memorials like the Maharaja’s resort are concrete links to a nation’s past showcasing ancient events and cultural heritage.A protected structure is a site of remnants of archaeological and historical value designated by the government as worthy of preservation. Such monuments are safeguarded against destruction, alterations and encroachments.The Maharaja’s palace had no protection whatsoever from either natural calamities or man-made ones, despite the state government’s directive. Some unscrupulous elements, trying to make a quick buck, tried to encroach upon the palace and adjoining land.That was until they were stopped in their tracks by an FIR registered by the Gurdaspur police on a complaint filed by heritage lovers. In 2016, the government floated a Rs 1.60-crore tender for its restoration. However, the contractor developed some differences with the powers-that-be following which work never started.The preservation of such sites is crucial for future generations. “The fact is that the present generation does not even know who the Maharaja was. And what exactly is his contribution to Sikh history,” opined cultural enthusiast Inderjit Singh Harpura.The apparent lack of care for historical and heritage sites by the present generation is an issue driven by rapid urbanisation, changing priorities and a disconnect between the past and present.Baldev Singh Randhawa, president of the Batala Virasat Manch, says “In schools, history books tell us who Ranjit Singh was. But this is quickly forgotten. Students are quick to be back to their favourite pastime of playing games on their mobile phones. Often, school students who visit the palace focus on getting themselves clicked in the palace, rather than engaging themselves with the heritage itself. History is often taught in schools as a burdensome subject focusing on dates and places rather than on inspiring narratives, leading to a lack of emotional connection to the monument.”A majority of people are unable to digest the fact that preserving historical sites adds value to their lives. They view them as impediments to modernisation. Till people have this mindset, sites like Ranjit Singh’s palace will continue to be neglected.As Pericles, the great Greek general and statesman, said, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”