Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Noted archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee KK Muhammed has raised questions over the BJP government’s approach to cultural heritage, stating that not a single temple has been built in the last 10 years. In contrast, he claimed, around 80 temples were constructed during the Congress regime.
Speaking exclusively to Free Press on Monday, the former regional director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) emphasised the need to separate mythology from historical facts. “Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga are not archaeological facts. Scientific dating methods like Carbon-14 (C14) are the only valid tools. If, after a thousand years, people still seek religion, Hinduism will be the first choice because it is vast and liberal,” he said.
While welcoming the resolution of the Babri Masjid dispute, Muhammed urged Muslims to give up claims on Gyanvapi in Varanasi and Mathura, stressing that these sites hold immense religious significance for Hindus. “Muslims cherish Mecca and Medina in the same way Hindus revere these places. These mosques have no connection to Prophet Mohammed—they are just places that can be relocated. Muslims should willingly leave these sites,” he suggested.
At the same time, he advised the Hindu community to limit its claims to these two sites. “If a long list of disputed places emerges, it will lead to chaos. India could face conflicts like those in Syria and Afghanistan, which must be avoided,” he warned. Refuting right-wing claims that the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar were originally Hindu structures, he cited architectural evidence. “Some Hindu groups claim the Qutub Minar was an 11th-century Shivalinga, but in that era, Indian temples did not have arches. Traditional temple entrances had beam-supported structures. The use of arches began only in the 13th century. Similarly, the Taj Mahal features a double-dome structure, a characteristic of Mughal architecture. Single domes existed during the Sultanate period (1192–1526), while double domes appeared in the Mughal era (1526 onward), proving the Taj Mahal’s Mughal origins.”
Muhammed also criticised the BJP government for neglecting archaeological research and heritage promotion. “India, the birthplace and workplace of Lord Buddha, is failing to capitalise on its rich heritage, while countries like Sri Lanka, Japan and Burma aggressively market Buddhist tourism. The ASI has suffered its worst decline under BJP rule,” he said. Taking a swipe at the ruling party’s cultural claims, he said, “The slogans of ‘Vishwa Guru’ are mere advertisements. If India truly wants to be a global leader, it must maintain its heritage properly and market it effectively.”
