By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The haste shown by Delhi Muslims and Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly, Mr. Shoaib Iqbal of the locality, in claiming and rebuilding the 17th century Akbarabadi Mosque on the site where its remains were found during excavation by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in early July 2012, was utterly nonsense. The Delhi High Court rightly acted fast and ordered its demolition – for maintaining peace and nipping plethora of disputes in the bud.
The Akbarabadi Masjid was built in 1650 A.D. by Bibi Akbarabadi, the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. But it was demolished by the British government after the first war of Indian independence in 1857.
Photo: The Sunday Indian
The DMRC earlier this month was digging beneath Subhash Park at stone’s throw from Shahjahani Jama Masjid for construction of an underground railway track and station of Delhi Metro. During the digging, some remains of the demolished mosque were found by labors. The news spread and the locals identified it as the remains of the Akbarabadi Mosque.
As the remains were found beneath the Subhash Park, which is a government property, a sensible approach should have been to approach the government with a request to give the site for reconstruction of the lost mosque. But it seems it was not done. First local Muslims started offering prayer at the site. Two Friday prayers were offered where several hundred Muslims attended, and then one day they started reconstruction of the mosque on their own. The act was simply illegal.
Even if it is true the mosque was standing at the same site for about 200 years until it was demolished in 1857, there is no point in reclaiming the site by the Muslims after finding remains and starting reconstruction. Will any one of us apply this in their own case?
Rapid Action Force personnel deployed to prevent any untoward incident around Akbarabadi Mosque site: Photo- The Hindu
For example, I have a three-room house at a small piece of land in Bihar. My father purchased the piece from a Hindu landlord well 25 years ago. It was unused, plain piece of land. I do not know what lies beneath my house. If today excavation begins beneath my house and suppose remains of a mosque or temple are found, will I allow rebuilding of the mosque or temple? Never. I repeat, Never. I think if the same happens with Shoaib Iqbal or any Muslim or Hindu, they too won’t allow.
This is the same premise on which Muslims have challenged the claim of Ram’s birthplace at the site of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and still fighting the case in court. They show land deeds that is in favor of the 16th century mosque and reject any claim on the basis of any excavation false or true.
Similarly more than 150 years have passed since the fall of Akbarabadi mosque and maybe after changing several hands, the site is now a government of India property on which Muslims have never claimed reconstruction of the lost mosque. There are thousands of mosques and temples lying beneath the surface of the land across the country. What about them? Will you reclaim all and rebuild them if their remains are found during excavation some day?
Who knows what lies beneath the majestic Jama Masjid of Delhi or Akshardham Temple? Should we start excavation? Never. I repeat, Never.