368:
the glazed ware, glazed tiles and bones found at the site. He made other observations such as on the use of lime mortar which he believed dated the underground structure to the
Sultanate period. He also claimed that the shortcomings of the report could not be made good and alleged that the ASI lacked objectivity, professional integrity, and scientific rigour. Under examination, Bhan clarified that he was only an archaeologist and not an art-historian or medieval historian.
372:
conclusions of the ASI. It dismissed as baseless his technical observations on matters such as the use of lime mortar which had been established to have been in use in India from at least 600 BCE, well before the
Sultanate period. The court noted that Bhan had a predetermined attitude against the ASI and noted that rather than being condemned, the Survey deserved commendation and appreciation.
33:
371:
In its 2010 verdict on the
Ayodhya dispute, the Allahabad High Court criticised the professionalism of the expert witnesses who had appeared on behalf of the pro-mosque parties. On Suraj Bhan, the court felt that he had made vague statements and had failed to provide a proper reason to challenge the
352:
Bhan who had visited the digs in June 2003 criticised the ASI for conducting extensive horizontal diggings which destroyed all the Mughal period remains at the site when limited vertical trenching was all that was required. Questioning the methodologies employed to date the underground structure, he
348:
and others in issuing a press statement denouncing the move. The ASI proceeded with its excavations and submitted its findings to the court in
September 2003. Its report revealed the presence of a circular shrine, dateable to 7–10th century and a "massive structure", 50 metres by 30 metres, built in
367:
Bhan appeared in the
Allahabad High Court to state his professional opinion that the conclusion of the ASI report regarding the existence of any temple beneath the Babri mosque was baseless. While he was present at the excavation for only three days, he claimed that the ASI did not properly record
343:
to do so. On 5 March 2003, the
Allahabad High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to excavate the site of the Babri Masjid in order to determine whether a temple-like structure had been demolished before the construction of the mosque. Suraj Bhan joined
230:
In 1987, Bhan was invited to give the presidential address to the
Archaeology section of the Indian History Congress, where he came out strongly against the tendency among some archaeologists to identify the Indus Valley Civilisation with the Vedic cultures. His paper in
306:, a former director of the ASI, that he had discovered pillar bases next to the Babri Masjid during his excavation in the 1970s. However, they did so while noting that they were not given access to Lal's excavation notes. Bhan would later testify in the
302:(BMAC) and rejected outright the idea of the mosque being the site of Rama's birth or of the possibility of it having been built atop a pre-existing temple. The authors dismissed the claim by
299:
172:(ASI) in 1956 as a technical assistant. He studied Archaeology and Culture for a second M.A. degree in 1960 and, in 1972 also received a Ph.D. degree from the
294:
in May 1991. Bhan contributed towards the archaeological component of the report. The authors claimed to have scrutinised the evidence provided by the
1148:
223:. His thesis on the "Historic Archaeology of Saraswati and Drishadavati Valleys" earned him a PhD in 1972. In 1975, Bhan published his major report,
364:. He proclaimed with certainty, that the "massive structure" found by the ASI was not a temple and that it was likely a Sultanate period mosque.
339:
in the
Allahabad High Court on behalf of the pro-mosque parties in 2000, 2002, and again in 2006. He was the only one of the four authors of the
195:, carrying out archaeology of prehistoric sites in Haryana. He rose to become the Dean of the Faculty of Indic Studies before retiring in 1991.
384:"Changes in the course of Yamuna and their bearing on the protohistoric cultures of Haryana." Archaeological congress and seminar papers. 1972.
895:
1133:
258:, in his obituary of Bhan, believed him to be a man of "impeccable personal ethics, which matched well with his professional probity."
321:
stating that the VHP protagonists had indulged in "indiscriminate PWD-like excavation." Bhan had earlier also contested statements by
390:"The sequence and spread of prehistoric cultures in the upper Sarasvati Basin." Radiocarbon and Indian Archaeology (1973): 252–263.
681:
Sharma, Y. D.; Srivastava, K. M.; Gupta, S. P.; Nautiyal, K. P.; Grover, B. R.; Agrawal, D. S.; Mukherji, S.; Malayya, S. (1993).
1173:
1163:
1114:
251:
118:(1931–2010) was an Indian archaeologist and professor of archaeology. His academic work was said to bear a deep imprint of
1066:
123:
1088:
1044:
631:
Ramjanmabhumi-Babri Masjid: A Historians' Report to the Nation by R. S. Sharma, M. Athar Ali, D. N. Jha, Suraj Bhan (
314:
1143:
1138:
1017:
991:
291:
150:
49:
967:
422:
329:
169:
181:
1168:
533:
725:
Nothing
Correlates with Existence of a Pre-Sixteenth Century Temple:Historians (pp. 103-107, from
303:
236:
216:
850:
555:
470:
943:
650:
203:
Bhan's early research was on the archaeology of prehistoric sites along the old river channels of
399:(with Jim G. Shaffer) "New discoveries in northern Haryana." Man and Environment 2 (1978): 59-68.
353:
accused the ASI report of being an attempt to push back the antiquity of
Ayodhya and thereby the
887:
435:
192:
603:
601:
820:
Historians' Statement on Allahabad High Court Order for Excavation at the Babri Masjid Site (
295:
279:
130:
979:
802:
662:
1158:
1153:
1013:
598:
307:
240:
8:
403:
227:, which became a fundamental reference for the study of Indus and post-Indus cultures.
381:"Excavations at Mitathal (Hissar), 1968." Journal of Haryana Studies 1.1 (1969): 1–15.
1110:
1084:
1062:
1040:
1037:
Anatomy of a Confrontation: The Babri Masjid - The Rise of Communal Politics in India
418:
275:
325:
that the black basalt pillars in the Babri Masjid were once part of a Hindu temple.
32:
1032:
496:
173:
165:
99:
440:
267:
394:
Excavation at Mitathal (1968) and Other explorations in the Sutlej-Yamuna divide
1054:
336:
1127:
1098:
313:
In October 1992, the four historians wrote in the CPI(M)'s weekly newspaper,
89:
53:
1106:
283:
271:
254:(ICHR) and a year later, he was appointed as a member of the ICHR council.
134:
225:
Excavations at Mitathal and Other Explorations in the Sutlej-Yamuna Divide
126:
in Haryana and took particular interest in the People's Science movement.
529:
345:
322:
255:
310:
that the report had been hurriedly compiled "under pressure" from BMAC.
407:
402:"Recent trends in Indian archaeology." Social Scientist (1997): 3–15.
1076:
718:
Historians Challenge the VHP's `New Evidence' (pp. 98-103, from
288:
Babari Mosque or Rama's Birth Place? Historians Report to the Nation
387:"Siswal, a pre-Harappan site in Drishadvati valley." (1972): 44–46.
354:
220:
212:
154:
732:
Historians Decry VHP Refusal to See Reason (pp 107-108, from
1103:
The Babri Masjid Question, 1528–2003: A Matter of National Honour
286:, were a group of four academics who submitted a document titled
208:
204:
158:
119:
78:
1018:"Decision of Hon'ble Special Full Bench hearing Ayodhya Matters"
695:
S. P. Gupta, Fresh Archaeological Discoveries at Ramjanmabhumi (
445:
177:
74:
138:
680:
244:
164:
He studied Economics and Sanskrit for a B.A. and M.A. at the
235:
volume (2002) countered arguments made by archaeologists,
683:
Ramajanma Bhumi: Ayodhya - New Archaeological Discoveries
129:
He was part of a panel of academics which contested the
955:
931:
868:
638:
766:
Suraj Bhan's Dissection of S. P. Gupta's Conclusions (
415:
The Making of History: Essays presented to Irfan Habib
319:
Ram Janmabhumi Ayodhya: New Archaeological Discoveries
586:
1012:
997:
985:
973:
949:
808:
668:
656:
607:
349:
three structural phases during the 11–12th century.
919:
827:
790:
748:
739:Archaeologist Refutes VHP Claim (p. 108, from
250:In 1996, he was awarded a senior fellowship by the
1000:, para 3889, para 3991, point VIII (vol. 18).
908:`It was not a temple': Interview with Suraj Bhan (
888:"'It was not a temple': Interview with Suraj Bhan"
613:
976:, para 3614, para 3615, para 3826 (vol. 15).
783:Archaeological Evidence - Comment by Suraj Bhan (
1125:
894:. Vol. 20, no. 19. 13 September 2003.
266:Suraj Bhan played a significant role during the
180:. He went on to a teaching career first at the
215:rivers in Haryana. In 1968, he excavated the
157:) in a peasant family and later migrated to
528:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
413:"Aryanization of the Indus Civilisation."
31:
880:
1149:Academic staff of Kurukshetra University
848:
844:
842:
574:
511:
122:. He was also involved with the work of
1097:
909:
821:
767:
712:
696:
632:
247:link to the Indus Valley Civilization.
1126:
464:
462:
460:
417:, pp. 41–55. Anthem Press, 2002.
198:
1031:
898:from the original on 25 October 2020.
839:
784:
548:
494:
252:Indian Council of Historical Research
149:Suraj Bhan was born in March 1931 in
1053:
961:
937:
925:
874:
849:Poornima, Joshi (8 September 2003).
833:
796:
754:
644:
619:
580:
488:
1075:
592:
457:
13:
1134:20th-century Indian archaeologists
1039:. New Delhi: Penguin Books India.
824:, pp. 139–142, 10 March 2003)
261:
144:
124:Communist Party of India (Marxist)
14:
1185:
952:, paras 3826-3829 (vol. 16).
659:, paras 3608-3611 (vol. 15).
495:Singh, Ranbir (23 October 2010).
468:
902:
814:
777:
760:
706:
689:
685:. New Delhi: Historian's Forum.
674:
471:"Mourning Professor Suraj Bhan"
396:. Kurukshetra University, 1975.
341:Historians Report to the Nation
1174:Indian social sciences writers
625:
270:, supporting the case for the
170:Archaeological Survey of India
168:. Subsequently, he joined the
1:
451:
358:
300:Babri Masjid Action Committee
185:
1164:People from Sahiwal District
274:. He along with historians,
7:
1083:. Oxford University Press.
988:, para 3826 (vol. 15).
811:, para 3609 (vol. 15).
671:, para 3615 (vol. 15).
610:, para 3613 (vol. 15).
429:
10:
1190:
1061:. New Delhi: Aryan Books.
317:, reacting to the booklet
998:Allahabad High Court 2010
986:Allahabad High Court 2010
974:Allahabad High Court 2010
950:Allahabad High Court 2010
912:, pp. 163–169, from
809:Allahabad High Court 2010
699:, pp. 109–116, from
669:Allahabad High Court 2010
657:Allahabad High Court 2010
608:Allahabad High Court 2010
335:Suraj Bhan deposed as an
105:
95:
85:
60:
42:
30:
23:
851:"Phantom Of The Fossils"
375:
292:Minister of Home Affairs
1144:Delhi University alumni
1139:Scientists from Haryana
770:, pp. 93–96, from
1081:The History of History
556:"Professor Suraj Bhan"
436:Archaeology of Ayodhya
193:Kurukshetra University
137:was built on top of a
916:, 26 September 2003)
703:, 1–15 February 1993)
328:The Babri Masjid was
296:Vishva Hindu Parishad
280:Dwijendra Narayan Jha
233:The Making of History
131:Vishva Hindu Parishad
1014:Allahabad High Court
534:"People's historian"
332:on 6 December 1992.
308:Allahabad High Court
16:Indian archaeologist
1169:Historians of India
964:, pp. 248–251.
940:, pp. 210–211.
877:, pp. 204–206.
736:, 15 November 1992)
647:, pp. 176–178.
595:, pp. 174–175.
499:. Mainstream Weekly
199:Archaeological work
1016:(30 August 2010).
787:, pp. 225–228
772:People's Democracy
743:, 25 October 1992)
741:People's Democracy
734:People's Democracy
729:, 8 November 1992)
727:People's Democracy
722:, 25 October 1992)
720:People's Democracy
583:, pp. 248–251
560:People's Democracy
532:(14 August 2010).
475:People's Democracy
315:People's Democracy
133:'s claim that the
1116:978-93-82381-45-7
635:, pp. 33–46)
276:Ram Sharan Sharma
182:Punjab University
113:
112:
1181:
1120:
1094:
1072:
1059:Rama and Ayodhya
1050:
1028:
1026:
1024:
1001:
995:
989:
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363:
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219:culture site of
190:
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174:M. S. University
166:Delhi University
100:Delhi University
70:
68:
35:
21:
20:
1189:
1188:
1184:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1179:
1178:
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1123:
1117:
1105:. Vol. 1.
1101:, ed. (2014) .
1091:
1069:
1055:Jain, Meenakshi
1047:
1022:
1020:
1004:
996:
992:
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980:
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948:
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774:, 3 March 1991)
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707:
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579:
575:
565:
563:
562:. 8 August 2010
554:
553:
549:
539:
537:
527:
512:
502:
500:
497:"Dr Suraj Bhan"
493:
489:
479:
477:
467:
458:
454:
441:Ram Janmabhoomi
432:
378:
362: 1000 BCE
361:
268:Ayodhya dispute
264:
262:Ayodhya dispute
201:
188:
147:
145:Life and career
96:Alma mater
81:
72:
66:
64:
56:
47:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1121:
1115:
1095:
1089:
1073:
1068:978-8173054518
1067:
1051:
1045:
1035:, ed. (1990).
1029:
1009:
1008:
1003:
1002:
990:
978:
966:
954:
942:
930:
928:, p. 210.
918:
901:
879:
867:
838:
836:, p. 201.
826:
813:
801:
799:, p. 172.
789:
776:
759:
757:, p. 186.
747:
745:
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737:
730:
723:
705:
688:
673:
661:
649:
637:
624:
622:, p. 249.
612:
597:
585:
573:
547:
510:
487:
469:Habib, Irfan.
455:
453:
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431:
428:
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426:
411:
400:
397:
391:
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382:
377:
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337:expert witness
298:(VHP) and the
263:
260:
243:et al. for an
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1099:A. G. Noorani
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1090:0-19-567244-5
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1046:1-85649-050-5
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109:Archaeologist
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63:
59:
55:
54:British India
51:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1107:Tulika Books
1102:
1080:
1058:
1036:
1021:. Retrieved
993:
981:
969:
957:
945:
933:
921:
913:
910:Noorani 2014
904:
891:
882:
870:
858:. Retrieved
854:
829:
822:Noorani 2014
816:
804:
792:
779:
771:
768:Noorani 2014
762:
750:
740:
733:
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719:
713:Noorani 2014
708:
700:
697:Noorani 2014
691:
682:
676:
664:
652:
640:
633:Noorani 2014
627:
615:
588:
576:
564:. Retrieved
559:
550:
538:. Retrieved
530:Habib, Irfan
501:. Retrieved
490:
478:. Retrieved
474:
414:
393:
370:
366:
351:
340:
334:
327:
318:
312:
287:
284:M. Athar Ali
272:Babri Masjid
265:
249:
232:
229:
224:
202:
184:and then in
163:
148:
135:Babri Masjid
128:
115:
114:
71:14 July 2010
18:
1159:2010 deaths
1154:1931 births
1023:27 December
540:24 November
536:. Frontline
346:Irfan Habib
323:S. P. Gupta
256:Irfan Habib
241:S. P. Gupta
189: 1967
86:Nationality
1128:Categories
1077:Lal, Vinay
785:Gopal 1990
452:References
423:1843310384
330:demolished
151:Montgomery
116:Suraj Bhan
106:Occupation
67:2010-07-14
50:Montgomery
46:March 1931
37:Suraj Bhan
25:Suraj Bhan
1033:Gopal, S.
962:Jain 2013
938:Jain 2013
926:Jain 2013
914:Frontline
892:Frontline
875:Jain 2013
834:Jain 2013
797:Jain 2013
755:Jain 2013
701:BJP Today
645:Jain 2013
620:Jain 2013
581:Jain 2013
304:B. B. Lal
237:B. B. Lal
1079:(2003).
1057:(2013).
896:Archived
860:24 April
593:Lal 2003
566:27 April
503:24 April
480:23 April
430:See also
355:Ramayana
221:Mitathal
213:Chautang
155:Pakistan
153:(now in
141:temple.
1007:Sources
855:Outlook
408:3517757
290:to the
209:Ghaggar
205:Sarsuti
159:Haryana
120:Marxism
79:Haryana
1113:
1087:
1065:
1043:
446:Siswal
421:
406:
178:Baroda
90:Indian
75:Rohtak
404:JSTOR
376:Works
245:Aryan
217:Indus
1111:ISBN
1085:ISBN
1063:ISBN
1041:ISBN
1025:2014
862:2015
568:2015
542:2014
505:2015
482:2015
419:ISBN
282:and
211:and
61:Died
43:Born
357:to
191:at
139:Râm
1130::
1109:.
890:.
853:.
841:^
715::
600:^
558:.
513:^
473:.
459:^
359:c.
278:,
239:,
186:c.
176:,
161:.
77:,
52:,
1119:.
1093:.
1071:.
1049:.
1027:.
864:.
570:.
544:.
507:.
484:.
425:.
410:.
207:–
69:)
65:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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