TARANGAMBADI, JULY 10. The historic Fort Dansborg at Tarangambadi, a relic of the Danish era in India, is back in the limelight with the initial phase of restoration work nearing completion.
Constructed nearly four centuries ago, the monument which served as the residence of Danish Governors for 150 years, has been in ruins, because of age, weathering and apathy on the part of the administration.
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Restoration work is on at the southern arm of the four centuries-old Fort Dansborg at Tarangambadi. (Right) The other portion of the fort is decrepit. -Photos: R. Raghu |
Now, work is on at a feverish pace to restore one portion of the Fort - southern arm - and finishing touches are being given. A function will be held on July 14 near the Fort premises to mark the completion of the work.
Also known as Tranquebar, Tarangambadi, about 275 km from Chennai, was chosen by the Danes to expand trade in the 17th century A.D. Ove Gedde, a Danish admiral, negotiated and signed a treaty with the Thanjavur King, Vijaya Raghunatha Nayak, in November 1620. It provided for creation of a port at Tarangambadi and export of pepper to Denmark. Work on the Fort began immediately and was completed in 1622.
By mid-l9th century, all Danish settlements were transferred to the British East India Company under a pact. Tarangambadi was one of them and the Fort, along with 13 brass canons mounted on the ramparts of the fort, became British property.
After independence, the monument was used as an inspection bungalow of the Public Works Department and in the late 1970s, a museum was set up to portray the Indo-Danish contacts in political, social and commercial fields. At present, a major portion of the Fort is under the control of the State Archaeological department, while one portion is with the Archaeological Survey of India.
The process of restoration started, exactly a year ago, when the Nagapattinam Collector, Sudeep
Jain, visited the Fort immediately after taking charge. He wrote to the Government, requesting it to arrange for restoration of the Fort.
The Denmark Government had also been urging its Indian counterpart to help in the restoration of the work. Meanwhile, a group of Danes formed the Tranquebar Association to take up the job.
In April, the ASI completed the restoration work on Gate, gateway to the "town of Tranquebar".
Around the same time, work on the Fort's southern portion began with the combined efforts of the Tranquebar Association and the State Archaeological department.
Cracks on the walls were filled and wooden doors and windows replaced with fresh ones. Four focus lights will be installed to light up the area. "We have carried out the work, conforming to the internationally-accepted principles of heritage conservation," says a senior official of the Archaeology department.
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