Babri Masjid, Ram Mandir Controversy

It is came to known that after Court’s decision on the Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir, gave birth to new problems. The construction of  mosque on alternative land given to the Sunni Waqf Board will be start soon.

It is now the  responsibility of  Professor SM Akhtar,  Jamia Millia Islamia University, to design and construct the new mosque. This decision is of Nov,2019.

The Uttar Pradesh government has given five acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque. This mosque is  in Dhanipur village, about 25 km from Ayodhya, under a Supreme Court order.  Will it ends the dispute of Babri Masjid Ram Mandir? this is another debate.

Professor Akhtar says this work is not limited to the mosque. This also build a complex with facilities for the public.

“The main purpose of this complex is to serve the people, which is the basic teaching of any religion, especially Islam,” he said. The basic things need to serve the people. Such as treatment and education will incorporate into the complex and are nothing new. Even in ancient times, mosques used to have such facilities from which the common people could benefit.

Professor Akhtar said that out of five acres, the mosque would be built on 15,000 square feet. However, he said he could not say at this time how many people would be able to pray in the mosque at the same time.

Will the new mosque be like the Babri Masjid?

Muslims are waiting for a new mosque to be built on alternative land. Now the question is what kind of expectations of the people can be attached to the new mosque? Will it end the dispute of  Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir between the people of India?

To this question, Professor Akhtar is of the view one expects the new mosque to resemble the past, it is not because of emotional attachment. It is because of a “misunderstanding” of Islamic architecture.

Talking about the design of the new mosque, he said that “each era has had its own unique architecture”.

Masque’s architecture should be used for today’s society and for the society of the future. The job of an expert is to make the best use of the facilities of the present age and to construct the building keeping in view the challenges of the present age.

“If one thinks that Islamic architecture is the same as it was in the Middle Ages, it is a misunderstanding,” he said. It was an era that has passed but Islam has passed a little, it is today and will remain tomorrow. In addition to India, you can see new mosques in Europe and the Middle East, using new architecture. Architecture is not the name of a single era.

According to Professor Akhtar, in the past, if there was a need for parking space, then today there is a need for car parking. Therefore, it is important to understand that in every age, architecture is subject to requirements.

Prefer the present and the future over the past

Professor Akhtar has participated in six international conferences on Islamic art and architecture, three of which he hosted himself.

According to him, a mosque from South India is designed which has been designed keeping in view the challenge of tackling climate change. That mosque does not take a single unit of electricity from outside. We need to keep such challenges in mind, not the memory of the past. ”

Professor Akhtar said: “It is too early to say what will be emphasized in the design of the new mosque complex, but it is certain that it may not be a reminder of the past but only a glimpse. The present and future needs are of more importance in this mosque.

How long will it take to build the mosque?

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Center will take some time to fully develop. This project is still in its early stages. There are still all the stages in the project of the mosque complex, the project will move forward as soon as the money comes.

He said that the first phase would be the ‘concept’ of the complex. When it is ready, then the design and then the construction phase will come. Right now, the time it takes to complete this project depends on the provision of funds.

The Sunni Waqf Board has set up an Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation for the complex, which will be overseen.

In the meantime, two separate bank accounts are open by the Foundation to raise funds. Donations are collected in one of these accounts for the mosque and in the other for the construction of other buildings.