Meet Ajay Pratap Singh, advocate for restoring Hindu properties ‘usurped by Muslims’

In the extreme Uttar Pradesh summer, 42-year-old Ajay Pratap Singh continues to navigate through the narrow lanes of the Agra District Court complex, carrying files that have the potential to reshape India’s history.

Mrityunjay Srivastava, the young judge at the Small Causes Court, has scheduled a hearing for Singh on 8 July and instructed him to send summons to the other parties involved. The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and Sheikh Salim Chisti Dargah Management Committee will be notified accordingly.

According to Singh, the Sheikh Salim Chishti Dargah, located within the Fatehpur Sikri fort, was constructed on the remains of the Kamakhya Devi temple mentioned in the poems of Vidhyadhar, the poet in the court of Sikri king Raja Dham Dev, long before the establishment of the dargah in 1580-81.

The Hindu advocate says further that the town was originally settled by the Sikarwar Rajputs, from whom it derives its name, and not by the Mughal emperor Akbar. References in Baburnama, Babur’s biography, which mentions Sikri, support these assertions.

Singh is dedicated to uncovering historical truths and restoring Hindu heritage, one archaeological site at a time. Armed with a wealth of historical knowledge, a few myths popular among a section of Hindus and legal expertise, he has gained recognition for his claims and earned admiration and respect from his family members.

Unlike other cases in Indian courts that are often driven by religious sentiments and activism, Singh holds that his arguments are based on archaeological and historical evidence.

Over the past year, he has initiated five cases, all with the common goal of reclaiming Hindu sites that are believed to have been taken over by Muslims in the past. These sites include the Taj Mahal (which he refers to as Tejo Mahal, somewhat like the discredited ‘historian’ PN Oak did), the Sheikh Salim Chisti Dargah (believed to be the Kamakhya Devi Temple), the Shahi Idgah (constructed on the site of Sri Krishna Janmsthan), the Atala Mosque in Jaunpur (originally the Atala Devi Temple), and the Sri Krishna Vigraha idols beneath Agra’s Jama Masjid. The Archaeological Survey of India protects all these sites.

Singh, seated at his residence in Agra, emphasises the importance of preserving our history and uncovering the truth. He believes that concealing the real history is an attempt to erase our identity, which ultimately affects a person’s self-respect. Singh clarifies that this matter is not about Hindu-Muslim divisions, but rather about seeking the truth, which the people of India have the right to know.

Singh strategically selects locations that are not protected by the Places of Worship Act, 1991. He explains that this Act does not apply to ancient and historical monuments or archaeological sites protected by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, or any other relevant legislation.

Singh relies on archaeology, Baburnama, RTIs, more

While managing multiple tasks, Singh remains connected through his earphones and phone. He diligently handles the five ongoing cases, coordinating with fellow lawyers, checking the status of case files, and reminding them about the upcoming hearing for the Sikri case. He also encourages his friend, a fellow lawyer, to spread the word in case more lawyers wish to join their cause.

Although Singh has been practising law for nearly a decade, his recent focus has been on safeguarding Hindu pride. He extensively researches ancient texts, books by archaeologists, and even the Baburnama to support his arguments. Additionally, he uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act as a modern tool in his pursuit of truth.

Singh has identified five more locations where he intends to assert Hindu claims in the coming months. These include the Dharhara Mosque in Varanasi, Badi Masjid in Jaunpur, Lal Darwaza Masjid in Jaunpur, Jama Masjid in Sambhal, and Jama Masjid in Badaun.

In his petitions, Singh relies on evidence provided by the Archaeological Survey of India to strengthen his arguments.

There exists a distinction between our academic history and the history of ASI. Academic history is a distorted version of history. ASI is a scientific government body that conducted excavations at Sikri between 1999-2000 under archaeologist DV Sharma to uncover its history. This excavation revealed that the fundamental architecture of Sikri is not Islamic, and new constructions have been added using remnants of Hindu structures, contradicting the original nature of the building,” he explains from his residence in the Bichpuri region of Agra.

This is the first instance where such a claim has been made regarding Sikri. During DV Sharma’s excavation of Sikri more than two decades ago, he discovered damaged Jain statues and statues of Saraswati. These findings are detailed in the book “Archaeology of Fatehpur Sikri,” which forms the foundation of Singh’s petition.

“I did not approach the excavation with any preconceived notions, but the findings completely altered the essence of Sikri. The broken statues discovered date back to 1010 AD, which is 500 years prior to Akbar, proving that the city was not established by the Mughal emperor,” Sharma informed ThePrint. The ASI website states that Sikri was constructed by Akbar, and this is the prevailing public perception. Akbar’s biographer Abu Fazl also mentioned in Akbarnama that the city was built by Akbar.

Presently, there is a surge in discussions among the residents of Fatehpur Sikri regarding Singh’s petition. Some claim that an effort is being made to stir up controversy.

Singh diversified to practising law

Singh, who originates from Etah, located 80 km from Agra, refers to himself as an accidental lawyer. He pursued law studies at Bareilly Law College in 2014 and commenced practice in 2015. However, neither was law was his initial choice nor did he have any inclination towards it. Before the legal practice, he exhausted all his attempts at the UPSC exams. Subsequently, he handled criminal cases in the Mainpuri district court for several years, but it failed to satisfy him. “Something was amiss,” he remarks.

When Singh is not advocating for historical accuracy, he is engaged in physical fitness at the gym. Despite his legal practice, he struggled to gain recognition, and even his family members teased him for not attaining success.

Singh, who holds an MSc in Organic Chemistry from Agra’s St John’s College, developed a keen interest in history during his UPSC preparations in 2008. His analytical approach led him to delve into contradictory historical facts, sparking his passion for the subject. He dedicates extensive hours to studying history and archaeology books, such as Baburnama and Cunnigham’s writings, as well as old ASI annual reports, to bolster his legal cases.

Singh’s mission is to shed light on Hindu history that has been neglected in textbooks, focusing on the valorous Hindu kings overlooked in Mughal-centric narratives. With a team of lawyers and history enthusiasts, Singh identifies Hindu sites previously occupied by Muslim rulers, meticulously analysing ASI documents and historians’ accounts. Through his WhatsApp statuses quoting Bhagavad Gita and his Facebook bio reflecting the valour of Rajputs, Singh’s devotion to Krishna and his cause is evident.

Naresh Sikarwar, a senior advocate, expresses confidence in Singh’s evidence and noble pursuits in the Sikri case.

Singh asserts that he is apolitical and has not received any support from the government or Hindu organisations. However, his social media posts suggest otherwise.

One of his posts on social media reads, “Modi ji is becoming PM for the third time. Tendulkar also used to get out at 90 sometimes, if not this time, then next time he will cross 400.”

Nevertheless, Singh claims that he could have only filed such a petition during the BJP government.

“I am currently not under any pressure, nor have I received any threats. If the government had a different ideology, there would have been pressure,” he states.

He identifies himself as a proud Rajput. In March of this year, he submitted an RTI seeking the ASI’s response on whether there are any documents proving that Maharaja Jaichand invited Gauri against Prithviraj Chauhan and that Jaichand was a traitor. After four months, the RTI is now being transferred from NCERT, History Division, to the National Archives of India.

According to most historical accounts, Jaichand supported Ghori against Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 AD due to their rivalry.

“If the papers are not found, then the Government of India will have to justify in court that Maharaja Jaichand is not a traitor and on what basis the entire Kshatriya community is being insulted,” he asserts.

The 5 big cases

One of the most significant and controversial claims made by Singh involves the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. The lawyer argues that the 17th-century masterpiece is constructed on a temple of Lord Shiva called Tejo Ling Mahadev.

In March of this year, Singh filed an RTI with the ASI to inquire about the history of the Taj Mahal. The ASI simply directed him to read the monument’s website.

Singh, dissatisfied with the bureaucratic and direct response from the ASI, initiated his own research to uncover the “truth”. He delved into documents such as Baburnama, Humayunnama, Bulletin of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, ASI’s Epigraphic Indica, Vishwakarma Prakash, and other sources.

He asserts that “Tejo” is one of Shiva’s many names and that this place has Hindu associations that the ASI should investigate.

Singh’s petition argues that determining the original architect of the Taj Mahal is challenging. This issue has been a point of contention in the records of ASI and the Royal Asiatic Society Bengal pre-Independence. In response to an RTI query, ASI informed Singh that no excavation has been conducted at the Taj Mahal. He has referenced Agra Gazette, ASI’s old records, and Royal Society records in support of his case.

In addition to Shiva, Singh’s legal expertise is also focused on Krishna. Among the 15 cases related to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi in the Allahabad High Court, one has been filed by Singh.

Planning to publish a book on Krishna Janmbhoomi, Singh argues that his case is backed by ASI evidence, unlike other cases. He claims to have substantial material to present in court compared to other petitioners.

Following a conversation with a local journalist last year, Singh was moved to tears. The journalist informed him that the centuries-old idol of Lord Krishna was hidden under the stairs of Jama Masjid in Agra, a task attributed to Aurangzeb.

On 3 August last year, Singh lodged a case in the Agra district court concerning the vigraha idols of Katra Keshav Dev temple, alleging that they are located beneath Agra’s Jama Masjid.

Singh requests a GPR survey of the Jama Masjid in the courtyard, with the hearing scheduled for 5 July.

Historians support these assertions. “Aurangzeb destroyed the temple and buried its remnants in the Jama Masjid. This fact cannot be denied. However, it is not appropriate to reopen this issue and disrupt the harmony of the nation based on this,” states Rajkishore Sharma Raje, a historian renowned for his work on Agra’s history.

Raje explains that numerous mosques were constructed on the foundations of Hindu temples during the Muslim era. Due to time constraints, new structures were not built, leading to the construction of mosques on existing sites. The historian also notes the absence of information regarding the Hindu origins of these monuments and locations in most textbooks.

“Not only in Agra, but in various parts of the country, similar incidents have occurred. During reconstruction, many clues were left behind. This is the basis for the current claims made by the Hindu side. Some claims may turn out to be baseless, while others may have merit,” Raje remarks.

Using Fatehpur Sikri as an example, Raje points out that the architectural style and construction indicate that it is not a Muslim edifice. “The architectural features present in locations like Birbal’s palace or the sculptures in Panchmahal are not typical of Muslim structures. This suggests that construction at Sikri predates Akbar,” he concludes.

Archaeologist DV Sharma concurs that the architecture of Sikri demonstrates that Akbar utilised the existing structures by making additions to them. Sharma stresses that Sikri has undergone multiple phases, and it is up to future generations to decide whether they wish to rectify historical inaccuracies.

However, Sharma expresses scepticism regarding the claims that the Chishti Dargah was originally the Kamakhya temple. He points out that significant alterations have been made to the structures, making it difficult to assert that the dargah was once the temple. Sharma credits Akbar with the construction of the Chishti Dargah and the Buland Darwaza, while the rest was built by the Sikarwar Rajputs.

On 17 May, Singh filed a case in the Jaunpur district court, asserting that the 14th-century Atala Masjid is, in fact, the Atala Mata Temple. The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board has been included as a party in this case.

Singh argues, “The architecture of the site is undeniably Hindustani. At some point, it was converted into a mosque. I am fighting a legal battle to determine the true identity of this place.” Singh believes that by pursuing these matters, he is fulfilling his responsibility towards future generations.

However, officials from the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board state that such cases have become increasingly common in recent years. They believe that these cases are filed with the intention of sowing discord in society. The officials argue that delving into history will only lead to more controversies in the present. They question the need to create tension over events that occurred centuries ago but acknowledge that some individuals have made it their mission to pursue these matters.

Singh, on the other hand, views raising these issues as a duty towards the next generation. He aims to leave behind a legacy that will make future generations proud of their ancestors. Singh believes that contributing to society is a noble endeavour, and he highlights the resilience of Indian culture, which has withstood numerous invasions due to the inherent tolerance of Hindus.

He maintains that safeguarding the truth is essential and that there must be individuals dedicated to upholding it. “I have chosen to undertake this responsibility. While some may criticise my approach, I am unwavering in my commitment. Even if the truth is harsh or difficult to accept, I will not shy away from it.”