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Indian Archaeologists Start Dig for Ancient Temple

Wed March 12, 2003 08:43 AM ET

By Sharat Pradhan

AYODHYA, India (Reuters) - Archaeologists began digging in northern India on Wednesday for the remains of an ancient Hindu temple whose disputed existence has triggered some of the nation's deadliest Hindu-Muslim clashes.

 

The government archaeologists, aided by some 50 laborers, used chisels and sifted mud by hand as they searched for remnants of the temple in Ayodhya that some Hindus say Muslim invaders razed in the 16th century to build a mosque.

 

That mosque was destroyed in 1992 by a frenzied Hindu mob, using sledgehammers, crowbars and bare hands, sparking India's worst religious violence since independence in which 3,000 died.

 

The 14 archaeologists, working in heat of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, were armed with a radar survey of the area indicating buried pillars and other objects.

 

The excavation site was covered by a tent whose roof was saffron, a sacred Hindu color, and ringed by 1,200 police, some carrying rifles, but police said they expected no trouble.

 

The dig follows a state court order giving the Archaeological Society of India four weeks to excavate for the temple which Hindus believe was built on the spot where the god-king Ram, one of the chief gods in their pantheon, was born.

 

The ruling was a bid to settle a half-century-old legal wrangle.

 

Muslims, who comprise 12 percent of India's mainly Hindu population, say there is no proof of the temple's existence but have said they will abide by any Supreme Court decision.

 

THOUSANDS THRONG TO MAKESHIFT SITE

 

If proof of a temple is found, Hindus could use it to try to persuade the court to allow construction of a new temple.

 

A makeshift Hindu shrine has been set up near the mosque site to which thousands of faithful throng but the Supreme Court has banned any permanent structure until the dispute is settled.

 

"I've been coming here for years every time in hope this dispute will come to an end and we Hindus will be able to offer prayers in peace," said Sushila, a devotee. The archaeologists were digging at four separate sites within an area of 10,000 square feet in the center of the ancient holy town that draws four million Hindu pilgrims a year, nearly twice the number that visit the world-famous Taj Mahal.

 

But experts say even if signs of an earlier structure were found, everything from the architectural design to carving patterns will have to be studied before conclusions can be drawn.

 

Some Muslims have questioned whether the dig by the archaeological society which falls under Human Resources Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, a Hindu hard-liner, would be impartial.

 

But Zafaryab Jilani, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who was an observer at the site, said he found "nothing to object to." He doubted, however, a month was long enough for the archaeologists to complete their work.

 

"In all probability they'll have to seek an extension."

 

The dig comes as Hindu militant groups allied to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have renewed their push to building the temple. Critics have accused the BJP and sister groups of exploiting the issue ahead of national polls due in 2004.