Prof R Nath

Architecture & Site of The Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya: (A Historical Critique) Prof R Nath

This is, basically, a study of the Architecture and Site of the controversial Ayodhya mosque, dealing, alongside, with its epigraphs, and also with other mosques which bear his name, in order to make an assessment of its style. Did Babur really commission it, or his name has been associated with it a little erroneously? What could possibly be the sources of this study and is not 'tradition' the most reliable source in the present context? How did the mosque forum evolve and does it attach meaning and importance to sites and symbols, like the Hindu temple? How 'siyasat' considerations have led to distortion and misrepresentation of 'shariat' laws by the fanatics and fundamentalist, for political advantages, and how has Islam, in fact, fared in India? Such historical and historiographical aspects of the controversy have been studied here and this is, essentially, a Historical critique on the subject. The available data shows, beyond any doubt, that the mosque stands in the ancient Ramkot (so called Fort of Rama, referred to as 'hisar' in its Persian inscription) on the site of a Hindu temple and temple material has been used in its construction.