RANIPET: The memorial of Raja Desingh and his wife Ranibai, key architects of modern Ranipet, is in a neglected and dilapidated state. This continues to be so even after formation of the Ranipet district.
The memorial for Raja Desingh and his wife Ranibai is located on the banks of the Palar river. Ranipet also assumes historical significance, since the town served as the garrison for elite regiments of the British forces. History has it that Raja Desingh refused to pay taxes to the Nawab of Arcot, the Nawab waged a battle against Gingee fort whose king was Raja Desingh and killed him in war. His young wife, Ranibai, committed 'sati'.
This turns of events very strongly affected the then Arcot Nawab Saadatullah Khan. Moved by the event, Saadatullah Khan, built a marble memorial each for the brave fallen King Raja Desingh and for Ranibai on the Palar river banks.
This majestic memorabilia today stands stripped of its ancient fame and name. Now, it has become a totally despicable place where society's underworld elements gather to drink and carry out their nefarious activities.
To add to the woes of the place, thick bushes and unwanted greenery had overrun the place. With the passage of time, the marble stones laid inside the structures have mostly been shorn off. All signs of this once magnificent structure has now totally vanished without a trace.
At the inauguration of the bifurcation of Vellore district into Ranipet and Tirupattur districts, Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Dy CM O Paneerselvam and other ministers and dignitaries in their inaugural speeches traced the importance of Ranipet to the Raja Desingh era, and most importantly stressed on Queen Ranibai's sacrifice.
It is high time that the district administration restores the memorial to its past splendour.
Ardent fans of historical artefacts and residents alike want the administration to not only restore the memorial, but also convert the place into a tourist attraction, and preserve the archaic fibre of the place.
Responding to a query on the subject, Sub-collector Elambagavath said that efforts to restore the memorial is already progressing. Only after the first few steps into the project did officials realise that the memorial stood on patta land. Hence, measures to bring the land into government possession has been taken.
Officials are in talks with land owners to secure the land, added the sub collector.
