ASI Begins Survey of Gyanvapi Mosque on Kashi Vishwanath Dham Campus
Amidst tight security arrangements, a 30-member team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has commenced a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque compound on the Kashi Vishwanath Dham campus in Varanasi. The team, consisting of experts from Delhi, Agra, Patna, and Varanasi centers, reached gate-4 of KV Dham before 7 am. The survey is taking place on the third Monday of the Shrawan month, with a significant crowd in attendance.
In suit no.18/2022 Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state and others, the women plaintiffs, their lawyers Sudhir Tripathi and Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, and DGC (civil) Mahendra Nath Pandey also arrived at gate-4 to join the survey. However, the joint secretary of the Gyanvapi Mosque management committee, SM Yaseen, clarified that the committee has no representation in the ASI survey. Yaseen stated that they were called to a meeting without prior information and requested an alternative time, as they had filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court scheduled to be heard on the same day. Due to their concerns being ignored, the committee decided to boycott the survey.
The lawyers representing the Hindu side, Tripathi and Chaturvedi, claimed that the ASI survey would proceed according to the district judge’s order from July 21. They asserted that the survey would reveal facts supporting their side’s claim that the Gyanvapi structure was built atop a Hindu temple.
Commissioner of Police Ashok Mutha Jain also arrived at KV Dham as the ASI team began their work inside the Gyanvapi mosque compound. Nevertheless, both the Commissioner of Police and ASI officials remained tight-lipped about the ongoing survey.
On July 21, the district judge, Ajay Krishna Vishvesha, directed the ASI to conduct a scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi mosque compound using ground penetrating radar (GPR), excavation, dating methods, and other modern techniques. The aim is to determine whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing Hindu temple structure.
In compliance with the court’s order, ASI officials contacted the District Magistrate, S Rajalingam, resulting in a meeting with all parties involved at the Commissioner of Police’s camp office on Sunday evening. Following the meeting, the District Magistrate confirmed that the ASI survey would begin on Monday morning.
The ASI has been instructed to investigate the age and nature of the construction of the western wall of the building, conduct a GPR survey below the three domes, beneath the western wall, and explore all the cellars. If necessary, excavation will be carried out. Additionally, ASI will prepare a list of artifacts found during the survey to specify their contents and conduct scientific investigations to determine their age and nature.
Furthermore, ASI will employ GPR surveys, excavation, dating exercises, and other scientific methods to determine the age and nature of the construction at Gyanvapi. The investigation will include the examination of artifacts and objects of historical and religious significance found throughout the building, including beneath the structure.
The ongoing survey follows a court ruling that permits the ASI to conduct a thorough investigation of the Gyanvapi mosque premises to ascertain its history and origins.
Sources:
– Times of India
– India News
