Skip to main content

Sambhal Mosque, Ajmer Dargah: How far back can we go? How history distortion has become a tool

By Ram Puniyani* 
The 1980s marked a significant downturn for peace and progress in India. Communal forces weaponized historical narratives tied to ancient holy sites. One prominent example was the Rath Yatra led by Lal Krishna Advani, advocating for a grand Ram temple precisely where the Babri Mosque had stood for over five centuries. Amid the rising tensions, Parliament passed the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibited altering the character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.
The Supreme Court, in its judgment on the Babri Masjid case, recognized this law as vital to the constitutional fabric, ensuring future peace. It ruled the mosque's demolition a crime, and contrary to claims, found no evidence of a temple beneath it. According to Sabrang, archaeologist Prof. Supriya Varma, who observed the Babri Masjid excavation, stated there was no temple below. Instead, going back to the Gupta period (4th–6th centuries), evidence suggested a Buddhist stupa might have existed.
During the Babri demolition, Hindu right-wing groups chanted: “Yeh to kewal jhanki hai, Kashi Mathura baaki hai” (This is just the beginning; Kashi and Mathura are next). Despite the 1991 Act, surveys have been demanded for Kashi and Mathura, with Justice Chandrachud remarking that the Act doesn't bar such inquiries, allowing Hindus to trace the history of disputed sites. This stance has emboldened the push for claims based on contested historical narratives.
Initially, Hindu right-wing groups promised to end their demands after Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura. Yet, over a dozen cases are pending, involving sites like Kamal Maula Mosque, Baba Budan Giri Dargah, and Haji Malang Dargah. Now, the Sambhal Jama Masjid and centuries-old Ajmer Dargah have come under scrutiny, with groups like Hindu Sena demanding more sites be handed over to Hindus.
Often, dubious documents are used to support these claims. British colonial narratives played a role, such as Mrs. Beveridge's Baburnama translation, which unfoundedly suggested a temple beneath Babri Masjid. History distortion has long been a tool—temples were often destroyed for wealth or to humiliate rivals, not solely for religious reasons.
Historically, religious motives underpinned the destruction of Buddhist Viharas. Swami Vivekananda noted that temples like Jagannath were originally Buddhist, later "re-Hinduised." Swami Dayanand Saraswati, in Satyarth Prakash, acknowledged that Shankaracharya refuted Jainism and advocated Vedic practices, leading to the destruction of Jain and Buddhist idols.
The Buddhist account of India's ancient history highlights how Pushyamitra Shunga, a Brahmin general who ended the Mauryan dynasty in 184 BCE, persecuted Buddhists. As noted by historian D.N. Jha, Divyavadana describes Shunga's army destroying stupas, burning monasteries, and offering rewards for killing Buddhist monks.
Jha also pointed out that some present-day Brahminical temples in Mathura, such as Bhuteshwar and Gokarneshwar, were originally Buddhist sites during the Kushana period. However, the communal historiography propagated by Hindu nationalists, rooted in British divide-and-rule policies, paints a one-sided narrative. Muslim rulers are often depicted solely as temple destroyers, while the patronage of Hindu temples by leaders like Aurangzeb and the temple plundering by Hindu kings like Raja Harshdev are ignored.
The selective portrayal of history overlooks the fact that Aurangzeb donated to temples like Kamakhya Devi and Mahakal. Meanwhile, Hindu rulers, such as the Marathas, destroyed temples in Srirangapatna. In contrast, the early post-Mauryan period saw temples destroyed explicitly to suppress Buddhism.
Today, India's political and judicial systems risk deepening religious divides by reopening historical wounds. The critical question is whether we should continue searching for temples beneath mosques or focus on building the "temples of modern India," as envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru—scientific research institutes, industrial hubs, and infrastructure to propel India's progress. The path India chooses will shape its future.
---
*Political commentator 

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Buddhist communities in Michigan protest for Mahabodhi Temple’s return to Buddhist control

By A Representative   Buddhist communities in Michigan have staged protests demanding the return of the Mahabodhi Vihara in Gaya, Bihar, India, to full Buddhist control. The Mahabodhi Temple, regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site in Buddhism, is currently managed under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority of control to non-Buddhists.

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative   A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.