In the midst of the Gyanvapi controversy, the government has now directed the ASI to excavate the Qutub Minar complex
*Paromita Das
Following the Gyanvapi Mosque survey, a debate erupted over Delhi’s Qutub Minar. Hindu deity idols were discovered, and it was claimed that the monument was built by Raja Vikramaditya, a Hindu emperor.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has now been commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to conduct the excavation and iconography of idols at Qutub Minar.
The Qutub Minar was built by Raja Vikramaditya, not Qutb al-Din Aibak, according to ASI’s ex-regional director Dharamveer Sharma, to study the direction of the sun.
The ASI has also been asked to submit its excavation report to the Ministry of Culture. Excavation can begin 15 meters away from the mosque, to the south of the minaret. Govind Mohan, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, made the decisions during a site visit with officials on Saturday, May 21.
Govind Mohan accompanied three historians, four ASI officers, and researchers to the site. The ASI officials informed the secretary that no excavation work had been done at the Qutub Minar complex since 1991.
On Sunday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesman Vinod Bansal claimed that Delhi’s famous Qutub Minar was actually ‘Vishnu Stambh.’
According to Bansal, the structure was built with materials obtained from the demolition of 27 Hindu-Jain temples.
He went on to say that the superimposed structure was built solely to amuse the Hindu community.
“The original name for the Qutab Minar was ‘Vishnu Stambh.’ Qutub Minar was constructed using materials salvaged from the demolition of 27 Hindu-Jain temples. The superimposed structure was constructed solely to amuse the Hindu community “according to news agency ANI, Vinod Bansal.
Bansal’s remarks come a day after the VHP demanded that the government rebuild the ancient temples at the Qutub Minar complex and allow Hindu rituals and prayers to resume.
Vinod Bansal and other VHP leaders had visited the monument’s compound, which was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993.
“We demand that all 27 temples that were demolished at the site in the past be rebuilt and Hindus be permitted to pray there,” he said.
Tarun Vijay, chairman of the National Monuments Authority (NMA) and a BJP leader, said on Thursday that Ganesha idols were placed “disrespectfully” in the Qutub Minar complex. Vijay also stated that he had raised the issue with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over a year ago but had received no response.
According to the Delhi Tourism website, the 73-meter-high Qutab Minar was constructed with materials obtained from the demolition of 27 Hindu temples on the site following the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom.
“An inscription over its [Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque] eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing ’27 Hindu temples,” according to the website.
“Qutab-ud-din Aibak, Delhi’s first Muslim ruler, began construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD but could only complete the basement.” According to the website, his successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak built the fifth and final story.
After a 1200-year-old Lord Narsingha idol, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Krishna idol were discovered inside Qutub Minar, several Hindu groups staged protests, chanted the Hanuman Chalisa, and demanded that Qutub Minar be renamed Vishnu Stambh.
Excavation will also take place at Lalkot Fort and Anangtal in Mehrauli, in addition to the Qutub Minar.
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