Author: Prafull Goradia
Publication: Organiser
Date: November 25, 2001
It is not widely realised that just
one. 19th century archaeologist, Lt Gen Sir Alexander Cunningham has left
behind records sufficient to fill 23 hard bound volumes recently published
by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This quantum of records are
a miniscule part of the survey treasure available with the ASI. Hardly
any of this literature is referred to in the books of Indian. history that
I happen to have read. Yet, the self-styled secular historians have the
audacity to protest that there is no need to fill the gaps. Any attempt
to rectify matters, is alleged to be saffronisation.
Let me share with you my experience
of how the ASI has been misguided since Independence. It has not only been
neglected but the work has been perverted by vested interests. Thus, one
of the Mountains of historical information has been deliberately stifled.
Had the two constables of Reserve
Police not been asleep on June 29, 2000, I would have been denied the privilege
of seeing an archaeological treasure of my homeland. For about twenty minutes,
I was able to walk around the Rudramahalaya complex at Siddhpur in the
Mehsana district of Gujarat. I was also able to take a minute off to have
the darshan of a Shivling in the premises. I could not go much further
because one of the constables woke up and politely told me to leave the
precinct as he had strict instructions from the government not to allow
anyone to enter the Rudramahalaya.
Siddhpur is to departed mothers
what Gaya is for dead fathers. In fact, it is called Matrigaya where a
Hindu could wish to offer shraddh to the soul of his mother. Bindu Sarovar
is where the ceremony is performed. Equally dear is Siddhpur especially
to Gujaratis, as the city is named after Gujarat's most famous monarch
who ruled medieval times. After he attained siddhi or success as the most
powerful king of northwest India, if not the whole sub-continent, he attained
the title of Siddhraj. His name was Jaisinh Solanki (1094 to 1143 AD).
On the intervention of the National
Minorities Commission since 1983, the Archaeological Survey of India has
been prevented from carrying on any excavations in or around the Rudramahalaya
complex once existed the tallest temple in Gujarat. From its top were available
glimpses of Patan, the capital of the ancient kings of Gujarat, some 25
kms away. From the top was were also believed to be visible some temple
mashaals in Ahmedabad when the capital was shifted there by Ahmed Shah
in the 15th century. That is 112 kms away. Even today the ruins demonstrate
the finery of the sculpture.
Human faces have been mutilated.
The tablet displayed at the spot by the Archaeological Survey says the
following:
This is the grandest and the most
impressive conception of a temple dedicated to Siva associated with Siddharaj
who ruled in the 12th century AD though tradition accords its construction
to Mularaj during the 10th century AD.
Only a few fragments of the mighty
shrine now survive. With its adjacent shrines possibly eleven part of which
converted into Jami Masjid later in the Mughal period, it must have formed
part of a grand composition dedicated to the Ekadasha Rudras...
The Jami Masjid mentioned above
is a modest affair. Its gate is so small that not more than two persons
can enter at the same time. On its top are two minarets less than 3 feet
tall. As one crosses the gate, there are four small temple sancti, one
on the left and three on the right. It is clear that the sancti had been
walled up and converted into a mehraab for the prayer space. Beyond this
is the square tank from ancient times which was also used by those who
came for ibadat. Yet beyond, stand a few handsome pillars and carvings
that have survived from ancient times.
According to a neighbour, no prayers
take place except that the odd Hindu drops in for darshan of the only surviving
shivling in one of the four sancti. The brick walls of the other three
sancti have also been removed although there are only platforms without
the idols.
The National Minorities Commission
has influenced the governments, both at Delhi and at Gandhinagar, into
freezing the excavation work that was begun by the Archaeological Survey
in 1979. The details are available across 38 pages in the Commission's
own fourth annual report dated 1983.
The improvement of the environments
of the masjid was first conceived in 1959 in response to a complaint repeatedly
made by the local Muslims that the Archaeological Survey has been neglecting
the repair and upkeep of the masjid. Yet, after 1983, the Commission has
not only ensured that the work be forzen but also that all the excavations
recently made should be covered up. And this has been done despite what
came out. A stone nandi bull, in its mutilated condition, I was able to
see. The rest of the relics were covered up. These included a Shivling
from the northern side of the complex and an idol carving from the southern
cubicle. The details are given on pages 135 and 136 of the Commission's
fourth annual report. Evidently, the list proved so embarrassing to the
Muslims that their leaders were anxious to bury the discoveries.
According to the report, Begam Aysha,
MLA, played a leading part in this cover up operation. Shri K.T. Satarawala,
the then Adviser to the Governor of Gujarat, also played a yeoman's role
by providing a detailed report on the subject. The Muslim appellants were
able to push the Archaeological Survey about, is best quoted from the fourth
annual report itself.
"Shri A. S. Quereshi, Advocate,
for the (Muslim) Trustees issued a notice dated the February 6, 1980, to
the Superintendent, Archaeological Department asking the Department to
build the compound walls as per the compromise and to cover up the temple
remains. The Superintendent, Archaeological Department. explained in person
the importance of the discoveries made and the need for revision of compromise
in the interest of preserving the precious cultural heritage of the country."
"As Shri Quereshi wanted to visit
the site along with Superintendent, Archaeological Department, he went
to Sidhpur on the March 8, 1980. At first, he agreed to the preservation
but later he insisted on closing the trenches in his very presence that
day. The Superintendent, Archaeological Department, ordered closure of
the trenches and construction of compound wall and both the works were
started in his presence."
The west and the north are at present
streets with common people living in small houses beyond. On the eastern
side there is space with no vested interest. That leaves the southern side
of the current part of the complex. There is situated the Dawoodi masjid
and attached to it is a fairly large area which houses the masjid complex
including the quarters of the people who work in the institution. Dawoodi
Bohras are the most influential community of Siddhpur and, evidently, their
leadership is worried about the consequences of any excavation. Go back
to what is written on the tablet displayed by the Archaeological Survey
and quoted above. It talks about eleven shrines for Ekadasha Rudras. At
the very most, four of the shrines are visible today as described above.
Where are the remaining seven?
Evidently, the fear is that they
are below the complex that today houses the Dawoodi masjid.
Should the work of the Archaeological
Survey be allowed to be halted by the intervention of the National Minorities
Commission? Should a national commission work at the behest of a narrow
local vested interest? Or, should not the government rein in the Commission
from undertaking such obstructionist activity? If there is legitimacy to
such activity, would it not be logical that the Archaeological Survey of
India be wound up? Which, of course, would imply that we have lost interest
in a search for our civilisational heritage. As most Indians are cremated,
it is difficult for them to turn in their grave. But certainly Lord George
Nathaniel Curzon, who founded the Archaeological Survey and redeemed the
Taj Mahal, would turn in his grave. After all, from Cairo he bought, with
his own money, two lamps that hang near the sepulchres of Shah Jehan and
Mumtaz Mahal.
