IN 1978, I visited Moenjodaro and saw that water level at some places was five feet below the ground. I said , ‘My God, this city would get destroyed within a few years.’ I got 50 transparencies made and took a flight to New York having sold my property in Defence to cover the expenses.

I knocked the door of Asia Society, the apex society where Benazir Bhutto, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had spoken. After an audition, the society permitted me to address its members. I spoke on Moenjodaro and the dangers it was exposed to. The cream of New York was present there.

Now when I look back , I feel happy that I contributed to the efforts made to raise climate funds to save Moenjodaro.

A few years later, I was bitterly disappointed to find that the funds for operating the tube wells to lower the water level were bungled so that these fell into disuse. Many tourists going to the ancient city were kidnapped, including a few Japanese. Above all, the objects and artifacts displayed in the Moenjodaro Museum disappeared.

I have stopped taking interest in Moenjodaro.

Azmat Ansari

Karachi

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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