New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India has found the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal as a whole to be in a “good condition” and concluded that it did not require a fresh coat of paint despite noting flaking of the paint on the exterior of the structure and “some signs of deterioration” at certain points.
The ASI made these observations in a nine-page report it submitted in the Allahabad high court on February 27 after carrying out an urgent inspection of the mosque on the court’s orders. The high court ordered the inspection after the managing committee of the centrally-protected mosque approached it with a request to allow it to carry out maintenance, cleaning, white washing and lighting work in the Masjid for Ramazan, which starts from March 2.
A page from the ASI report. Photo: By arrangement.
The inspection was carried out by a three-member team of joint director general ASI Madan Singh Chouhan, director (monument) Zulfeqar Ali and superintending archaeologist ASI Meerut Circle Vinod Singh Rawat, along with the mutawalis (caretakers) of the mosque.
The caretakers of the Babar-era mosque, which Hindu activists are trying to seek entry into by claiming that it was the site of an ancient temple are struggling to get the structure white washed for the Islamic holy month of Ramazan. The Hindu plaintiffs in the civil suit in the Sambhal court have opposed the mosque committee’s request to carry out repair and maintenance work alleging that it was an attempt to deface the structure. Hari Shankar Jain, lawyer and main plaintiff in the civil suit seeking access to the mosque, argued that in the garb of repair and maintenance work, the caretakers of the mosque would deface the “artefacts, signs and symbols of Hindu temple.”
The Jama Masjid in Sambhal, which the ASI has said is in ‘good condition’. Photo: By arrangement.
After perusing the ASI’s quick inspection report, a bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal on February 28 granted the caretakers of the mosque two days to file an objection but did not allow them to whitewash it. Justice Agarwal directed the ASI to carry out day-to-day maintenance, such as cleaning, removal of dust and removal of vegetation growth in and around the monument forthwith. The court said it was expected from the mosque committee that they “would not put any hindrance and would cooperate in the work of ASI.” Justice Agarwal also asserted that no person from the administration would interfere during the cleaning work.
The caretakers of the mosque have insisted on getting the structure white washed for Ramazan, arguing that it was part of an old tradition and necessary for the maintenance of the structure.
A page from the ASI report. Photo: By arrangement.
Zafar Ali, the chairperson of the Shahi Jama Masjid, speaking to The Wire, said the ASI assessment only took note of the interiors of the mosque. The external part of the mosque was in a bad shape and pigeon droppings, moss and soil had congealed at some points. “The condition outside is bad. The ASI only focused on what’s inside,” said Ali.
In its report, a copy of which is with The Wire, the ASI said that the managing committee of the mosque had in the past undertaken several works of repair and renovation resulting in “addition and alteration” of the historical structure.
The floor of the monument has been completely replaced by tiles and stones. The interior of the mosque has been painted with thick layers of enamel paint of sharp colours like golden, red, green and yellow concealing the original surface of the monument, the ASI report said. However, there was no need for any urgent treatment, it added.
A page from the ASI report. Photo: By arrangement.
“As per the observation of the team the said modern enamel paint is still in good condition and there seems to be no urgency to repaint the same. However, the exterior of the monument has some signs of flaking of the paint but the condition doesn’t require an immediate treatment at the moment,” the ASI said.
Zafar Ali said that the mosque was white washed every year during Ramazan and for Eid-ul-fitr. “It is an old tradition that has been followed every year,” he said, adding that the mosque committee sought to seek permission first this time due to the sensitive nature of the Sambhal issue. “We did not want any complications,” he said.
The main entrance of the mosque is from the east side which opens through a wide doorway with a large wooden door. The lintel of the doorway is badly decayed which needs replacement, the ASI further said.
A page from the ASI report. Photo: By arrangement.
The body also said that a number of small chambers at the backside (west) and north side of the mosque were being used for storage purposes by the managing committee. These chambers are in dilapidated condition, especially ceilings, which are supported by wooden shingles, and are vulnerable, the ASI said. The ASI noted that there were “some signs of deterioration” at the entrance gate of the mosque as well as in the chambers located behind and at the northern side of the prayer hall.
The ASI informed the high court that all the modern work or intervention carried out in the structure of the mosque would need to be studied thoroughly by its Conservation and Science Wing.
The Jama Masjid in Sambhal. Photo: By arrangement.
A 1927 agreement signed between the mutawalis of the mosque and the secretary of the State of India Council provided for repair work to be done by the ASI. The agreement stipulated that the mutawalis would not undertake any repairs of the mosque without the prior consent in writing of the district magistrate of Sambhal (then Moradabad Collector) and that the mutawali would not destroy, remove, alter, deface or imperil the Masjid, nor they can build on or near the site of the Masjid without permission. The ASI, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Hindu plaintiffs used this point to argue that the mosque committee should not be allowed to paint the structure.
Senior counsel S.F.A Naqvi, appearing for the mosque, however, submitted in the court that for the last many decades, the white wash and other repair work in the mosque was being done by the mosque’s managing committee itself and the ASI did not interfere in the matter. Around Rs 4 lakh was spent on the maintenance and whitewashing of the mosque by the caretakers last year, he said.
Naqvi said that an application for the grant of permission for the white wash and necessary repair work in the mosque was sent to the ASI on February 8. “The agreement was signed almost a century ago and the ASI never objected to the annual whitewashing of the mosque, which is necessary to preserve its outside structure,” he said.
Naqvi said the ASI’s findings and the conclusion in which they rejected the mosque’s request for whitewashing were contradictory in nature.
