Babri Masjid

Babri Masjid
Samuel Bourne[1][2] (1834–1912) · Public domain · source
Name	Babri Masjid
Location	Ayodhya, Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh
Religious affiliation	Sunni Islam
Region	India
Consecration year	1528
Status	Demolished 1992; site subject to reconstruction disputes

Babri Masjid

The Babri Masjid was a mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, associated with contested claims regarding the birthplace of Rama and linked to medieval and modern political movements. It became central to disputes involving figures and organizations such as Shah Jahan, Babur, Akbar, Mughal Empire, Hindu Mahasabha, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and All India Muslim Personal Law Board. The site's history intersected with legal institutions like the Supreme Court of India and events including the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ayodhya dispute.

History

Construction of the mosque is traditionally attributed to orders emanating from the period of Babur and the early Mughal Empire, with later attributions linking its foundation to figures associated with the Mughal court and Deccan polity such as Mir Baqi and discussions in works by historians like Y. D. Sharma and I. H. Qureshi. The site in Ayodhya is tied to ancient narratives in texts connected to Valmiki, Ramayana, and regional pilgrimage networks centered on Saryu River and nearby Nirmohi Akhara establishments. British colonial-era records, including surveys by the Archaeological Survey of India and administrative reports by the East India Company, documented local claims and sectarian tensions involving groups such as the Nirmohi Akhara, Shia community of Lucknow, and Sunni caretakers. During the 19th and 20th centuries, episodes involving the Malik Motajar, municipal authorities, and communal petitions escalated into legal suits lodged in district courts, eventually reaching the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and the Supreme Court of India.

Architecture

Descriptions in gazetteers and studies by architects and archaeologists compared the mosque's elements to features in Mughal-era structures like Jama Masjid, Delhi, Agra Fort, and exemplars from the period of Humayun and Akbar. Observers noted a rectangular plan, domes, and a prayer hall reflecting features cataloged by the Archaeological Survey of India alongside local craftsmanship traditions linked to artisans from regions such as Jaunpur and Lucknow. Comparative analyses referenced motifs found in structures associated with Shah Jahan and urban typologies documented by scholars such as Gwilt and James Fergusson. Debates about the mosque's substructure involved excavations and reports by teams including Archaeological Survey of India archaeologists, independent researchers affiliated with institutions like Deccan College and Banaras Hindu University, and international assessments influenced by methods used at sites like Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar.

Religious and Cultural Significance

The site held significance in devotional traditions related to Rama and ritual calendars observed in Ayodhya and regional pilgrimage routes connecting to Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Sitamarhi. It was a focal point for organizations such as Nirmohi Akhara, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and congregations including Ulema Council in local Sunni networks. Festivals and observances linked to figures like Tulsidas and the performance traditions of Ramlila placed the location within broader cultural economies involving traders, caretakers, and institutions such as the Ayodhya Municipal Council and temple management bodies. The site's contested status influenced heritage debates engaging institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India, academic departments at Allahabad University, and international media coverage by outlets reporting on communal heritage and identity politics.

Disputes and Legal Battles

Litigation over the site involved petitioners like Nirmohi Akhara, Sunni Muslim litigants represented by groups associated with the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, and Hindu claimants supported by organizations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party. Landmark cases progressed through courts including the District Court Faizabad, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad which issued a 2010 judgment partitioning rights among claimants, and ultimately the Supreme Court of India which in 2019 delivered a conclusive judgment. Legal arguments invoked evidence from excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India, affidavits by historians, and submissions referencing records from the British Raj and princely states. Public mobilization included mass rallies, legal campaigns by figures such as L. K. Advani, and interventions invoking constitutional provisions and statutory instruments adjudicated by the judiciary.

Demolition and Aftermath

On 6 December 1992, a large gathering involving activists from organizations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party led to the demolition of the mosque, an event that triggered nationwide communal violence, police responses by forces including the Central Reserve Police Force and investigations by bodies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation. The aftermath included criminal prosecutions, commission inquiries, and legal proceedings culminating in trials and convictions pursued in special courts and under statutes enforced by the Government of India and state administrations of Uttar Pradesh. The demolition had major political repercussions influencing electoral politics, coalition formulations involving parties like the Indian National Congress, and policy debates at the level of the Parliament of India while prompting international reactions from states and organizations engaged with religious freedom and minority rights.

Reconstruction and Present Status

Following the Supreme Court of India judgment in 2019, the site’s allocation for a Hindu temple complex engaged trust formation, land transfer processes, and construction plans overseen by entities such as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust and consultations with the Archaeological Survey of India for heritage management. The judgment directed the provision of an alternate five-acre plot to Sunni Muslim groups and established mechanisms involving the Government of India, state authorities of Uttar Pradesh, and religious representatives including leaders from Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni bodies. Ongoing construction efforts cite architectural models referencing classical temple references like Nagara architecture and consult artisans from regions such as Prayagraj and Jaipur. The site remains a focal point in contemporary cultural politics, heritage discourse, and legal scholarship, continuing to draw attention from journalists, scholars at institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University, and international observers.

Category:Ayodhya Category:Religious sites in Uttar Pradesh Category:Disputed religious buildings and structures in India