Mr Anil Dhir of Odisha is a successful researcher and writer, known for his historical research. He is the national Vice President of ‘Bharat Raksha Manch’ which is creating awareness about Bangladeshi infiltrators into India. He is in the governing council of ‘Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)’.
He is also associated with organisations restoring ancient temples, culture, civility, and heritage, and for the protection and conservation of temples. Mr Dhir has written on Odisha’s history and culture. He has worked with tribals and fisherman communities in Odisha and has found many unknown facets of their lives. Based on this experience, he has written a book titled ‘Confluences : Journey to the Heart and Soul of Odisha’. He has written 11 books and some of them have been published by the Archives of the Odisha Government.
Inspiration to dedicate his life for the mission of protecting and conserving temples
There are thousands of temples in Bhubaneswar, including more than 600 ancient temples even today. Mr Dhir was brought up in a spiritual environment. He was interested in Hindu temples in Odisha right from his school days, and would work for the conservation of temples in his free time. During his college days, he tried to learn their history.
In 2012, he came in contact with Sanatan Sanstha and its activities, and had meetings with different Saints at Sanatan’s Ashram in Goa. He was greatly influenced by their guidance, and later, he gave up his job as the Vice President in a financial company at Kolkata and decided to devote all his time for the conservation of temples. He took up various projects such as the ‘Jagannath Sadak’ project, research on temples in the Prachi River Valley and heritage of River Mahanadi. He regularly participates in the ‘All-India Hindu Conventions’ held at Goa every year.
Mr Anil Dhir was an active member of RSS during his college days. He worked in different sections of RSS. He is presently the office bearer of RSS of its ‘Bharat Itihas Sankalan Samiti’. He is also a member of the ‘Suraksha Samiti’ of the famous Konark Sun Temple.
He is a special representative – a research journalist – of ‘Uday India’, a weekly English Periodical. Mr Anil Dhir earnestly feels that there are many ancient temples in India which are in dilapidated condition and require restoration.
The sacrifice of the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation & Dharma.The ‘Hindutva Warriors’ is a series of Articles that sheds light on their life and struggle to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that it serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and inspires many others. – Editor.
1. Higher Education to Temple Protection – A Journey
Mr Anil Dhir hails from Punjab but his place of birth and work has been Odisha. He was born in 1961 in Cuttack in Odisha and stays in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. After studying in Stewart School, he obtained a degree in English literature. Taking admission in Utkal University of Bhubaneswar, in eight years, he studied different subjects such as English literature, history, anthropology and social science. He acquired three post graduate degrees.During this period, he also joined the ‘Flying Club’ of Bhubaneswar and got a flying licence as a private pilot. He was never in the field of Dharma and culture. He was working in a financial company in Kolkata as a Vice President.
In 2014, he decided to fully dedicate himself to the mission of protecting the places of heritage; and since then, he has been working for the research, protection and conservation of ancient temples which include huge temples built on hundreds of acres of land to the smallest of temples located in jungles in tribal areas.He discovered the ancient ‘Jagannath Sadak’, the ancient road from Kolkata to Jagannath Puri (used earlier by many Ascetics and Seers for the pilgrimage of Jagannath Yatra)
2. Protection and Preservation of ancient temples and places of heritage
A. Search of 6,500 temples through ‘INTACH’ : In 1984, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was set up for the preservation, conservation and restoration of places of Indian heritage at the national level such as ancient temples, forts and palaces.
Mr Anil Dhir has found 6,500 temples which are 300 years old in 17 Districts of Odisha through INTACH, and is still working on his mission.
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Odisha – A Powerhouse of Indian Culture | Anil Dhir | #SangamTalks (Courtesy : Sangam Talks) |
B. Documentation/Record of ancient Idols : Many stolen Idols have been found and are kept with the Government administration since there is no record or information of their places of origin. Realising this problem, Mr Anil Dhir has started the work of documenting / recording the information of Idols in every temple.
C. Found 63 ancient 700-year-old temples in Mahanadi Valley : Mr Anil Dhir travelled in a bullock cart in a 400 km area and conducted surveys on both the banks of River Mahanadi that flows to Odisha from Chhattisgarh. He found 63 ancient, and 700-year-old temples which have been submerged in the River for the past 80 years.
He requested the Archaeological Survey of India to bring at least 2-3 temples above water and restore them. During the construction of Nagarjun Dam, the then Archaeology Survey of India had shifted two temples to another place and Mr Anil Dhir feels that a similar procedure can be used in the case of these temples.
D. Registration of Muths, temples, places of heritage in the Prachi River Valley : The origin of Prachi River is about ten km from Bhubaneswar. It is believed that the Prachi Valley culture predates even the Indus Valley civilisation. INTACH started a project to document and register all places of heritage and memorials found in Prachi Valley. Under this project, Mr Anil Dhir is busy in the registration of 350-400 such temples, Muths, ghats, structures and heritage places built between the 7th and 15th century in the 60 km belt of Prachi River.
3. Appointment as ‘State Welfare Officer’ on Indian Animal Welfare Board
The Indian Animal Welfare Board working under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Atmospheric Changes has appointed Mr Anil Dhir as Odisha’s honorary ‘State Welfare Officer’ under which he will work for stricter implementation of animal welfare laws in Odisha, giving grants to animal welfare organisations and advise the Central and State Governments on welfare issues.
(Ref.: SanatanPrabhat.org)
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