New Delhi: On November 3, 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to consider a representation submitted by the Hindu Sena, a right-wing Hindu organization. The representation claims that the Taj Mahal was not built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, but by Raja Man Singh, a Hindu Rajput king.
The Hindu Sena’s plea is based on a number of claims, including that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple known as Tejo Mahalaya, which was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. They also believe that Shah Jahan simply renovated and expanded the existing temple complex, and did not build it from scratch, and there is no evidence to support the claim that Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The Hindu Sena has also alleged that the ASI has been suppressing evidence that supports their claims. They have demanded that the ASI open up the 22 closed rooms in the Taj Mahal to public scrutiny, and that they allow independent historians to conduct research on the monument.
The ASI has rejected the Hindu Sena’s claims, stating that there is overwhelming evidence to support the traditional view that the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century. The ASI has also stated that the 22 closed rooms in the Taj Mahal are not accessible because they are part of the monument’s structural integrity.
The Delhi High Court has not taken a position on the Hindu Sena’s claims. However, by directing the ASI to consider the representation, the court has given the Hindu Sena a platform to air their views.
The Hindu Sena’s plea is part of a larger campaign by right-wing Hindu groups to reclaim what they believe are Hindu monuments that were appropriated by Muslim rulers during the Mughal Empire. In recent years, there have been calls for the removal of mosques from Hindu temples, and for the renaming of Mughal-era monuments.
The Hindu Sena’s plea is also part of a larger trend of historical revisionism in India. In recent years, there have been attempts to rewrite Indian history to emphasize Hindu contributions and downplay Muslim contributions. This trend has been fueled by the rise of Hindu nationalism in India.
The Hindu Sena’s plea is likely to be controversial. Many historians and archaeologists have dismissed the Hindu Sena’s claims as baseless. However, the plea has the potential to generate public support for the Hindu Sena’s campaign to reclaim what they believe are Hindu monuments.
The Delhi High Court’s decision to direct the ASI to consider the Hindu Sena’s representation is a significant development. It gives the Hindu Sena a platform to air their views and to challenge the traditional view of the Taj Mahal. The outcome of the ASI’s consideration of the Hindu Sena’s representation remains to be seen. However, the plea is likely to have a significant impact on the debate over the Taj Mahal and the legacy of the Mughal Empire in India.