Skip to main content

'Dargah site was a temple': Claim in Gujarat following post-Babri verdict demands in UP

 
By Rajiv Shah 
Will Gujarat also see demands to replace mosques and dargahs with Hindu temples? It would seem so, if a new fact-finding team conclusion is any indication. Apprehending the “danger” of communal conflagration, it has cited the claim on a 15th century dargah was originally a Hindu temple – allegedly quite on line with what has been happening in UP following the Supreme Court verdict on Babri Mosque.
The matter, the team says, came to light in October 2021, when a group of people entered the Roza Rozi dargah, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site situated in Sojali village along the banks of Vatrak river, about five kilometres from Mehmdabad town in Kheda district, and 40 km from Ahmedabad. A small temple-like structure, “allowed” to be built in 2014 inside the dargah compound, is said to be the reason behind the wild claim.
The group played music on loudspeaker, placed a photo of a Hindu Goddess (Matahji) inside the dargah and worshipped it – all of it captured in a video and circulated widely on social media, attracting outrage    from the Muslim community, said the report prepared by the fact-finding team consisting of Dr Ajaz Shaikh, Hozefa Ujjaini, Samina Malek, Khairunnisha Pathan, Latif Malek and Manish Manjulaben.
“This is not an isolated incident where a dargah or a mosque has been claimed to be a place of worship of Hindu deities”, the report asserts, calling it part of a “disturbing trend” widely prevalent in Gujarat even before the Babri was allowed to be replaced by Ram Temple.
Citing incidents of “vandalization and destruction” of non-Hindu heritage, even as “undermining” the syncretic tradition prevailing in the State, the report says, in Ahmedabad, during the 2002 riots, the mazaar of the famous poet, Wali Gujarati or Wali Dakhani, was razed, and the city authorities built a road on the top of it.
Then, in 2006, Vadodara city faced communal flare-up after razing of the ancient 14th century dargah of Sayed Chisti Rashiuddin, a medieval Sufi saint. And in 2019, in Dholka, “anti-social elements” spread the rumour that Tanka Masjid, situated in Dholka, about 100 km from Ahmedabad, was earlier a temple. The narrative led to communal frenzy in the area.
The Dholka monument, according to the report, was also targeted through a Twitter hashtag #ReclaimTemple, where a post claimed that the Tanka Masjid of Dholka is a Hindu temple. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad submitted a memorandum that the site previously was a Bhim kitchen and Pandavas’ school. Following civil society intervention, police provided protection to the masjid.
The report quotes Gujarati writer Saroop Dhruv, who has extensively written on different archaeological monuments, to point out that the Roza Rozi monument was built in the era of Sultan Mahmud Begada, a follower of Sufi saints. “Begda’s views are reflected in the art and structure of the established architectural sites during his rule. Roza Rozi is one such example”, it says.
“The site reflects the rich composite culture in India where Hindus and Muslims both come to pray and perform rituals according to their belief”, the report notes, giving details Rozi Roza: “During the reign of Begada, Hazrat Mubarak Saiyyad was a minister and his son Hazrat Pir Minar Saiyyad built the Roza as a memorial to his father. The Roza is also the resting place of Pir Minar Saiyyad and other members of the family. It is decorated with domes, arches, columns, and finely carved stone grills.”
It continues, “A little ahead on the opposite side is Rozi, which houses the memorials of the wives and other women of the family. The Rozi is a simpler structure in brick with some work on the inside of the domes. The original structure had two minarets of which one is still standing. One can see some work on the minaret.”
According to the report, in the occasion of Navratri, on Maha Ashtami (Atham of Navratri) October 13, 2021, a group of people, including women, adolescent girls and boys entered the gate of the Roza Rozi dargah under the pretext of offering puja in the small temple which came up in 2014 inside the compound of the dargah.
The mob, after entering the compound of the dargah, instead of going towards the temple, which is situated on the back side of the dargah in the same compound, entered the dargah. It danced throughout the procession, stopped in front of the dargah and played music on DJ set.
Meanwhile, the report says, “Some people from the mob entered the dargah and placed a photo of Hindu Goddess Khodiyar and performed aarti and sprinkled the gulaal and lit a lamp (diya). The video of the whole incident was recorded and it went viral on the social media.”
  Different groups, political parties and Muslim leaders raised the issue and submitted memorandum to the collector and the superintendent of police to take action against it. Officials, including the collector, visited the site. The police uninstalled the Goddess’ photo the next day and ensured cleaning up of gulaal in the dargah. Protection was given to the site.
Pointing out that the temple-like structure, which came up in 2014 inside the compound of the dargah, is dedicated to Goddess Khodiyaar, the report says, ever since the locals have been “claiming that the idol of the Goddess came up mystically at the site of the temple.”
Claiming that this marked the origin of the dispute and narrative, which led to stating that Roza Rozi was originally a temple, the report says, “Puja began being offered in the small temple on various occasions. Meanwhile, a separate entrance was allocated to access temple in the compound. Devotees wanting to access the temple offered puja began using this entrance.”
However, on the day of the incident, the mob entered the compound from another gate of the monument, and according to the caretaker (mujavar), he allowed them to enter in as he thought they were going to offer puja in the temple. The mob stopped in front of the dargah, played DJ and danced. Amongst them, one person went inside the dargah and performed puja after placing Goddess’ photo.
A Darbar (Rajput)-dominated village, Sojali has a population of 3,000, including 12 Muslim families and the three families of caretakers of the dargah. Following an earlier communal tension, a few Muslims left the village and settled in Mehmdabad town. However, they often come to the village to take care of their land.
The fact-finding team, following interview with the caretaker and villagers observes, “It appears that the incident that took place on October 13, 2021 was planned and provoked by the supremacist groups to disturb peace… It seems that the incident was part of a larger conspiracy by supremacist groups.”
Pointing to the presence of BJP MLA Arjun Singh in a programme prior to the incident, the report says, while may not be “direct evidence” of he behind the provocation, but the “coincidence can’t be dismissed entirely.”
The small temple came up in 2014, and there is “no ancient evidence” of presence of any Hindu temple in writing in any literature. “The land of the site is very huge and people with vested interests have an eye on the land for economic benefits. The communal dispute could be a smokescreen to capture the land”, it underlines.
Also, “Muslims have their own lands in the village. Supremacist groups are taking advantage of economic conditions of local villagers. They want Muslims completely washed out from the village and capture their property.”

Comments

TRENDING

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor*  A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative   A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025. 

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman*   The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.