What is the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex dispute?

What is the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex dispute?

GS-1: Arts and Culture

(IAS/UPPCS)

Relevant for Prelims:

Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid Complex, Parmar Raja Bhoj, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Carbon Dating.

Relevant for Mains:

Architecture of Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid Complex, About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Carbon Dating, Conclusion.

20/04/2024

Source: TH

Why in news:

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid Complex located in Dhar district.

What is the controversy:

  • The dispute over the Bhojshala complex is several decades old, which is linked to the religious beliefs and traditions of the Hindu and Muslim communities of Dhar district of Indore division of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Current situation: As per the arrangement made since the year 2003, Hindus offer prayers on Tuesday while Muslims offer namaz on Friday in this complex.
  • Hindus consider it to be the temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) and Muslims consider it to be Kamal Maulana Mosque.
  • The situation of dispute between the two communities becomes serious when the religious festivals of both take place on the same day.
  • Petitioner: A group called Hindu Front for Justice has filed a petition in the court seeking to revive the original condition of the complex and transfer the property to Hindus.
  • This group argued that the Kamal Maula Mosque was built by destroying the ancient structures of Hindu temples already built during the reign of Alauddin Khilji between the 13th and 14th centuries.
  • Evidence: According to the Hindu side, during the excavation done here in 1875, the statue of Goddess Saraswati was found which was taken to London by an Englishman named Major Kincaid, which is currently kept in a museum in London.
  • To resolve this dispute, Indore High Court had directed ASI to conduct a scientific survey of this complex.
  • Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will present its recommendations based on the findings obtained from the carbon dating test of the objects present in the disputed site.

Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid Complex:

  • Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid complex was originally a temple of Goddess Saraswati built by the Parmar king Bhoj in the 11th century AD.
  • The mosque was built using the remains of the temple. Some slabs inscribed with Sanskrit and Prakrit literary works are also present in the monument.
  • Raja Bhoj, known as a great patron of arts and literature, is said to have established a school in the complex, now known as Bhojshala.
  • Built by: It is believed that it was originally a temple of Goddess Saraswati built by the Paramara king Bhoj in the 11th century AD and the city was one of the capitals of Malwa for a long time.
  • Delhi Sultanate: Malwa came under the Delhi Sultanate in the early 14th century and soon after, a hypostyle mosque was built using parts of fallen temples.
  • After the death of the Chishti Sufi saint Kamal-al-Din in 1331 AD, his tomb was established next to the mosque, and the building came to be known as the Kamal Maula Mosque. This suggests that the building was constructed before 1331.

Architecture of Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Masjid Complex:

  • Pillars: The complex has several sandstone pillars of different designs dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries.
  • During the construction of the mosque the pillars were reshaped as well as placed one above the other to increase the height of the roof, following the building practices seen in the Qutub Complex of Ajmer and Delhi.
  • Style of construction: Domes of trabeate construction decorated with intricate cusping and lotus figures have been added.
  • The arches and minarets in this temple were added in the 1400s by the kings of Mandu during the Malwa Sultanate.
  • Inscriptions: The complex has a series of stone panels with Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions installed on the walls and floors. These include rules of Sanskrit grammar and esoteric diagrams.
  • The Jain inscription at the chowki (Bhojshala) mentions an idol of Vagdevi (Saraswati), which shows that Goddess Saraswati was worshiped in Dhar.

About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):

  • Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the premier organization for archaeological research and conservation of the country's cultural heritage under the Ministry of Culture.
  • It manages more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
  • Its activities include survey of antiquities, discovery and excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and maintenance of protected monuments, etc.
  • It was established in the year 1861 by Alexander Cunningham, the first Director General of ASI. Alexander Cunningham is also called the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.

About Carbon Dating:

  • Carbon dating technique was discovered in 1949. It was invented by William Frank Libby of Chicago University, America.
  • Carbon dating is a scientific technique used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample.
  • Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is produced in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms.
  • Carbon-14 is absorbed by plants and animals through photosynthesis and consumption, and its concentration in living organisms is approximately constant.
  • When an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon-14, and the carbon-14 in its body begins to decay at a predictable rate.
  • By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in a sample, scientists can calculate how long an organism has been dead.
  • The age of a substance about 50,000 years old can be determined by carbon dating technique.
  • This technique is widely used in archaeology, geology and other fields.

Conclusion:

  • In the last one or two years, many religious places in the country like Gyanvapi Temple-Mosque in Varanasi, Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi, Taj Mahal in Agra, Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura etc. have been the subject of controversy. And due to these disputes, an atmosphere of instability has been arising in the country.
  • In resolving these disputes, the basis of carbon dating test by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been considered logical and justified by the court. However, how true are the findings from this test? It depends on the objectivity of the investigating team.

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Mains Question

What is the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex dispute? How justified can the resolution of this dispute be on the basis of carbon dating test by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)? Discuss.