Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes

By Dheeraj Sajwan

Dehradun: A thousand lamps lit up in Dehradun on July 31 evening as people from all echelons gathered to pay tribute to a city that exists only in memory after being submerged two decades ago. Tehri, once the heartbeat of Garhwal, now exists in the form of a crafted replica but for those who lived there once upon a time, it is a city where they walked the streets, laughed and called home.

Considered the cultural, political, and spiritual heart of Garhwal, Tehri's Jal Samadhi took place in 2004, when the entire city submerged beneath the mighty Tehri Dam, the country’s tallest, and among the largest in Asia. But its once-residents, have not let time forget the city rather made it an emotion that will remain alive till their last breath.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

Old Tehri was located at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers, which was considered a sacred place with many myths attached to it. Once known as Trihari, the city was believed to absolve sins of thought, word, and deed. As per legends, it was in the city that one felt the blessings of the Tridev, - Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. It was the residing place of pilgrims, poets, and political thinkers who felt blessed walking in the same paths.

But apart from the mythological significance, Tehri had a strategic, cultural, and emotional importance too. Established in 1815 by King Sudarshan Shah after the Nepalese invasions, the city bubbled with life as a princely state. It is believed that the king was divinely blessed by the Kaal Bhairav and Goddess Rajrajeshwari to make Tehri his capital. But the astrologers, given the placement of the rashis and nakshatras, predicted that the city would last 186 to 200 years. True to the prediction, the waters rose and the city went below the waters.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

Tucked in the lap of the Himalayas, Tehri was a vibrant hub where cultures converged and differences blurred. Villagers from surrounding hamlets also found the place to form a common ground. Be it Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, everyone spoke Garhwali, shared food and celebrated festivals together. It was the bright example of harmony which continued till the city sunk.

"The tea stalls in the city were the melting pots where fierce debates took place alongside steaming cups of tea. Discussions ranging from monarchy to democracy, national politics to cultural relations provided food for thought for a majority," says Subodh Bahuguna, son of a former resident of the city, who made the replica of the lost city in Dehradun in 2007, naming it 'Ek Thi Tehri' (There once was a Tehri). The elderly who lived in the city vouch that Tehri played a crucial role in the statehood movement of Uttarakhand in the 1990s and India’s freedom struggle.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

A stalwart Sridev Suman who is hailed as the Bhagat Singh of Garhwal, fought valiantly against the oppressive monarchy of Tehri. His 84-day hunger strike led to his martyrdom but sadly his body is believed to have been thrown into the Bhilangana, Bahugana says. School textbooks across Uttarakhand and a university by the name of Sridev Suman University, commemorate his sacrifice.

The Tehri Dam construction began in 1965. Then, environmentalists including Sundarlal Bahuguna, wanted to stop the work citing ecological cost and human lives. But despite launching protests and petitions, the project went on. Eventually the city submerged in 2004. Tehri, people say, gave way to 'progress'. Shops, schools, temples, houses, the palace and even the iconic clock tower, all gave in to the rising waters.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

"Every year on July 31, former residents and their family members come together to celebrate the city where they were born and grew. They light lamps, share stories, and let the younger generations know about the legacy of the city Tehri once was. I feel this is important to keep a city alive," Subodh adds.

Parth Saklani, an Indian working in the UK, comes to Dehradun every year and makes it a point to visit the Tehri replica. "Because our generation will only see this city this way. The replica is a fantastic way to connect with history," he says.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

BJP leader Vinod Uniyal who is the president of Tehri Smriti Manch, has also assured to do something to preserve the city's memory. "I have proposed the construction of a bigger replica of the Old Tehri city close to the lake which can be a potential tourism site. Besides it will connect people of many generations," says Uniyal.

Ek Thi Tehri: On The Banks Of Memory, A City In Uttarakhand Once Submerged, Still Breathes (ETV Bharat)

The Tehri dam's height is 260.5 m and its power generation capacity is 2400 MW. Being India's highest dam, when its construction began, opposition to the construction of the dam grew louder. Under Sunderlal Bahuguna's leadership, many people appealed to the Prime Minister in Delhi. But nothing made impact. Slowly, the fields, houses, shops, school grounds and everything got submerged in water overflowing from the dam. Finally, on July 31, 2004, old Tehri, a strong pillar of Garhwal's history, was buried under water.

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