Ram Mandir Webinar: Padma Shri archaelogist sheds light on temple excavation

KK Muhammed briefed the audience on the details behind the temple's excavation

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) held the first webinar of the five-part series focused on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in association with the Hindu University of America (HUA) on December 9.

Padma Shri K.K. Muhammed, a distinguished speaker, provided an informative talk about the excavation history of numerous sites, including the old Babri Masjid, where Islamic structures were constructed atop the foundations of Hindu temples.

The excavation of the Kesariya stupa in Bihar, the Ibadat khana and Christian Chapel in Fatehpur Sikri, and St. Augustin Church in Goa were all undertaken by Muhammed, who retired as regional director from the Archaeological Survey of India. During his career, he has faced many difficult conversations across the nation, frequently enlisting the aid of dacoits in the Chambal valley and the Naxal groups of Chhattisgarh. Several international, national, and state awards have been bestowed upon him in recognition of his exceptional contributions to conservation.

Muhammed briefed the audience on the artifacts found by his team during his excavation. The audience greatly admired his principled stance in standing by Dr. B. Lal's work and the excavation team he was a part of in the face of vicious attacks from special interests like Irfan Habib and his colleagues.

The Hindu community in the audience was pleasantly surprised by the amount of knowledge Muhammed displayed about Hindu traditions, including his flawless recitation of many Sanskrit shlokas from the scriptures.

In the upcoming webinar, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, an Indian lawmaker, will provide a historical perspective, beginning with Babur's 16th-century destruction of the Ram Mandir and continuing up to the current day.