Yatnal urges Union minister Shekhawat to restore glory of Anubhava Mantapa
Vijayapura: Bijapur City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal has written to Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to take steps to reclaim the ‘Anubhava Mantapa,’ believed to the first parliament of the world, started by 12th-century social reformer Jagajyoti Basavanna.
In the letter dated Nov 7, Yatnal has stated that the Peer Pasha Bangla,’ a dargah of a Muslim saint is actually the original ‘Anubhava Mantapa,’ He has asked the Ministry of Culture to immediately take steps to vacate the Peer Pasha Bangla and conduct a survey of the Bangla by ASI to restore the glory of the Anubhava Mantapa.
“Narendra Modi ji had referred to Anubhava Mantapa in his speech during the inauguration of our new Parliamentary building. With utmost dismay, I would like to convey that Anubhava Mantapa, established by Basavanna in the 12th century, has been encroached upon and is presently known as the Peer Shaw Bungalow. It is really baffling to know the incompetence of ASI in ensuring the properties are not transferred to any others, especially related to our historical monuments which are our National properties, I request you to issue notices to such officials who failed to note the change in names of documents of properties under ASI,” he said in the letter.
“The Peer Shaw Bungalow has to be vacated immediately to rectify the misgovernance, misdeeds, and Tyranny of Mughal rulers in general and the Waqf board in particular. It would be a great insult if the Anubhava Mantapa is not restored to its past glory. This would result in cultural erosion and give a fillip to the Abrahamic religions to destroy our culture, traditions, and beliefs. Anubhava Mantapa set up by Basavanna in the twelfth century CE is situated in Basavakalyan in the Bidar region of Karnataka. The pushkarani (stepwell) and other signs like kalasha (spire) of the temple are ample evidence to substantiate the fact that the dargah was historically a temple,” he pointed.
Yatnal said that Hindus who are the majority in the country should not be reduced to such a state to plead for their places of cultural and historical importance in their land and added that the time has come to re-examine the temples converted to dargahs and mosques.
He narrated that the Waqf Board has claimed 43 centrally protected monuments at Vijayapura as theirs.
“The ASI is the holder of the monument; however, the Waqf authority holds the encumbrance. Mohammad Mohsin, who was both the DC and Chairman of the Waqf Board in Vijayapura, changed the encumbrance illegally without consulting the ASI. These properties were declared as Waqf property in 2005. A top-level committee must be formed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to probe the taking over of protected monuments and ensure legal action is taken against the Waqf Board for crossing the line,” he demanded.
