The recent turmoil in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, is deeply rooted in a historical and religious dispute over the origins of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a mosque that stands at the center of a longstanding controversy. The conflict came to a head on Sunday when a seven-member team, tasked by the court to conduct a survey of the mosque, was met with fierce resistance from a large crowd. The violence that ensued, involving stone-pelting, arson, and gunfire, resulted in four deaths and a significant disruption of normal life in the region. Schools have been closed, mobile internet suspended, and prohibitions on gatherings have been enforced as authorities seek to contain the fallout.
The source of the tension is a claim by certain Hindu groups that the Shahi Jama Masjid was built on the ruins of the Shri Hari Har Temple, a temple supposedly dedicated to Kalki, the prophesied tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to their narrative, the temple was destroyed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526, similar to other instances of religious sites being repurposed or demolished during the Mughal era. The Hindu side, represented by advocate Vishnu Jain, contends that the temple had links to both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, and that the Jama Masjid Committee’s use of the site is "forcible and unlawful."
This dispute isn't new; it traces back through centuries of contested history, and scholars have debated the validity of these claims for decades. Historian Meenakshi Jain and others have cited the Baburnama, Babur’s autobiography, suggesting that in 1526, he ordered the conversion of a Hindu temple in Sambhal into a mosque, with inscriptions commemorating the event. This view is echoed by another historian, Sri Ram Sharma, who documents the destruction of Hindu temples under Babur’s reign, both in Sambhal and other regions.
Adding to the narrative are archaeological findings, particularly those detailed in an 1879 report by British archaeologist ACL Carlleyle, conducted under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Carlleyle noted that much of the mosque's construction involved rubble masonry—an architectural style involving irregularly shaped stones, often from demolished structures. He suggested that stones from the original temple were used in the mosque's construction, with Hindu carvings allegedly turned face-down to form the building’s pavement. This use of temple remains is often cited by those who argue that the mosque was indeed built over a Hindu site.
However, Carlleyle's report also acknowledged that doubts existed, particularly regarding the authenticity of the Babur inscription on the mosque. Some local Muslims in the late 19th century questioned the legitimacy of the inscription, suggesting it might have been a later addition. Yet, Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of the ASI, affirmed the inscription's authenticity, noting that it appeared genuine and accurately dated to Babur’s era. This debate over the inscription highlights the ongoing complexity of establishing a definitive historical narrative, as physical evidence is interpreted and contested from different perspectives.
The violence in Sambhal was triggered by a second court-mandated survey following a petition filed on November 19, which reiterated the claim that the mosque was built on the remains of a sacred Hindu temple. The court responded by appointing an advocate commissioner to conduct an initial survey, but the attempt to follow up with a more detailed examination provoked a severe backlash. Tensions escalated as a mob encircled the mosque, leading to deadly confrontations with law enforcement and survey officials. The court has set a deadline of November 29 for the team to submit their findings, indicating that the issue remains unresolved and highly sensitive.
This latest episode in the Sambhal dispute is set against a backdrop of India's broader political and religious dynamics. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal district, located 20 kilometers from the contested site. During the ceremony, he emphasized the symbolic importance of Kalki, likening his anticipated influence to that of Lord Ram. The temple is being developed by the Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust, an organization led by Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who was expelled from the Congress party earlier this year for his controversial statements.
The competing religious and historical claims have turned the Shahi Jama Masjid into a flashpoint of tension in a region already marked by deep communal sensitivities. This particular mosque is an ASI-protected site, with a long history of serving as a place of worship for the local Muslim community. The recent violence underscores how historical narratives can be mobilized in contemporary political contexts, with the potential to inflame sectarian passions. In this case, the focus on Babur's legacy echoes the debates surrounding other contentious sites in India, such as Ayodhya, where similar disputes over temple and mosque sites have had profound and far-reaching implications.
In Sambhal, the court's decision to authorize a survey reflects the judiciary’s role in adjudicating these historical and religious claims, a task fraught with challenges given the complexities of evidence, interpretation, and cultural significance. As the court-ordered team prepares to submit its findings, the region remains tense, with authorities on high alert to prevent further violence. The survey's outcome may not only affect the future of the Shahi Jama Masjid but could also set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in India, where history, religion, and politics frequently intersect in powerful and unpredictable ways.
