INDIAN
INSTITUTE FOR TRUE HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Newsletter
No. 7 of 16-th June 1982.
Dear
1. Mr.Godbole (1234-57388)
Correspondence:
1.1 Prof. Buckminster Fuller of
1.2 In view of Festival of
|
Keneth Robinson |
- Chairman of the Arts Council. |
|
|
- Former Education Officer, British High Commission, |
|
Sir Michael Walker |
- Former British High Commissioner, New-Delhi (1974-76). |
|
Dr. Mildred Archer |
- Formerly in charge of the Department of Prints and Drawings of India
Office Library. |
|
Mr. Porter |
- Director of The Commonwealth
Institute. |
|
Edmund. Swinglehurst |
- Group Press Officer of Thomas Cook Ltd. |
|
Robert Skelton |
- Keeper of Indian Section, |
|
Eileen Graham |
- Education Officer, |
Stanley Hodgson, the Director of Festival of India replies - "I
have read the papers with much interest and find your analysis very
penetrating. As the last six years of my working life in
Edmund Swinglehurst has replied on similar lines.
1.3 Mr.M.Y.Gokhale, our member from Thane (near
1.4 In connection with the above it must be noted that Thomas Twining an
eighteen year old employee of
Letters were sent to India Office Library, British Library, London Library
and Bodleian Library Oxford, but none of them have such maps.
It was suggested to Mr. Gokhale that he should try to obtain help from historians
and historical institutions/societies in
1.5 BBC1 repeated the traditional lies about Taj Mahal in their TV
programme
"Holidays" on 28 February 1982. A letter was sent to Ann
Grace, the BBC reporter.
1.6 Col. Gadafi after coning to power ordered that all the churches in
1.7 Copies of Mr. Godbole's analysis of the Taj Mahal legend were sent
to the Presidents of
1.8 An enquiry was sent to the Director of GIRAUDON, a photographic
archive in
1.9 A letter was sent to the Superintending Archaeologist,
Archaeological Survey of India,
1.10 Mr. Bhanage of Pune has now admitted that he was wrong about
foundation details of Taj Mahal (see newsletter no. 3). But he still refuses to
accept the whole truth. In a letter to him Mr Godbole wrote - "Now you
must read my analysis of the legend again. As Taj rests on well foundations how
come Peter Mundy says nothing about them and yet tells us that gold and silver
are being used as common metal, and marble as ordinary stone? Questions after
questions like this arise and are dealt with in my analysis. If you wish to argue
answer all such questions first." Mr
Bhagane did not reply.
1.11 Mr Hemant Gokhale of
(See Archaeological Survey of India 1871-72 volume 2 pace 124/5.
Our Annual Report of 1930 pages 92 and 93.)
1.12 Several letters were exchanged with Dr. Bedekar of Thane. It was pointed
out to him that a new list of members has now become essential. But this must
he on area basis e.g. list members in
1.13 Contacts were maintained with Jeevan Kulkarni and Sanjay Bhide of
Research Findings
1.14 Taj Mahal
1.14.1 Taj Mahal is Tejo Maha Alaya
Mr. Oak's contention is fully corroborated. by European Travellers. Though
it was much easier for them to call it Taj Mahal they have consistently used
the term Taje Mahal. Here is the summary.
|
Traveller |
Year |
Term used. |
Reference |
|
Peter Mundy (Welsh Merchant) ----------------------- Francois Bernier (French Physician) ----------------------- Thevenot (French Traveller He did. not go to |
1632 --------- 1666 --------- 1666 |
Taje Moholl's -tomb ------------------ Taje Mehale's Mausoleum ------------------------ Mausoleum of Tadge-Mehal |
(The Travels of Peter Mundy vol II pg 208/9. Edited by Sir R.C.Temple, published by Hakluyt Society in 1914) ----------------------------------- (Travels in Mughal Empire by F. Bernier. Edited by V.A.Smith 1914 pgs 294 & 299) ------------------------------ (Indian travels of Thevenot and Careri. Edited by S.Sen Director of Archives Govt. of |
|
Thomas and William Daniell (English Painters) --------------------- Thomas Twining (Governor of 1802-1805) --------------------- Reginald Heber (Bishop of |
1789 -------- 1794 -------- 1824 |
Taje Mah'l ---------------------- Taje-Mehal -------------- Taje |
(Oriental Scenery - 24 views in 1789-90 by Thomas and William Daniell
published in ------------------------- (Travels in India a Hundred
Years Ago by Thomas Twining published in 1893 by J.R.Osgood Mcilvaine & Co. of ----------------- (Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Major Archer (East India Company Army) ------------- Capt. Leopold Von Orlich (German Army.) ------------------- Bayard Taylor (American Novelist and Journalist) |
1827 -------- 1843 ------- 1853 |
Taje -------------- Tauje Mahal ------------- Taaje Mahal |
( ------------------- (Travels in published 1845 vol II page 44) ---------------- (A visit to India China and Page 68) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Fergusson (A Scotsman who pioneered the work of History of Architecture. He
toured -------------------- Le Bon (Gustave) French Historian) |
----- ----- ----- |
Taje Mehal Taje Mehal Taje Mehal -------------- Taje |
(Illustrated. Handbook of Architecture by J. Fergusson published 1855 pages
436-438) (History of Architecture of all countries by J. Fergusson published 1867, vol II page 693) (History of Indian and Eastern Architecture by J. Fergusson published 1876
Book VII Chapter X page 597) ------------------ (Le Civilisations de Iinde by Le Bon Gustave published in
1887 Page 575) |
1.14. Who is buried in Taj Mahal?
Bishop Heber, Major Archer, and Bayard Taylor tell -us that Nurjahan
wife of Shahjahan is buried in Taj Mahal. Manrique calls the lady- chief
and most beloved. wife and Begoma, Tavernier calls her Begum - Sultana Queen,
Daniells just say favourite queen, Le Bon Gustave is still more uncertain, he
says one of his wives. So the travellers do not tell us even the name of the
lady. Manucci calls her Taj Mahal, Leopold Von Orlich calls her Mumtaz Mahal.
Twining calls her - favourite Begum Taje-
Mehal or Noor Mehal (which was Nurjahan’s previous name).
1.14.2 The Palaces on the bank of River Yam-Una (Jurana)
(A) We mentioned Records of the Dutch East
Our information needs a small correction. Francesco Pelsaert says
"... the waterfront is occupied "by the costly palaces of all
the famous lords ... and- extends for a distance of 3 ½ -
(B) Apparently this fact is also mentioned, in Shahjahan's official chronicle
Badshahnama. See Agra Historical and
Descriptive by Syed Mohamraad Latif, Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of
London, 1896 page 100. Unfortunately Mr. Latif does not say exactly where in Badshahnama
this information is to be found..
(C) Despite this evidence Prof. Ram Nath of
Manzil laterally means the halting place. It does not mean "Ala Manzil"
as has wrongly and no doubt mischieviously, "been interpreted in the Mother
India of February of 1967 (This is probably Mr Oak's article). Ref –
Thus Prof. Ram Nath thinks that the 101/2- mile long bank of river Yaauna
was full of halting places of various lords and not their palaces. Is there no
limit to how low these secular Hindus will sink? This Professor was awarded a
Ph.D. for re-hatching the usual Taj Mahal legend in 1969 and even made a Fellow
of the Indian Council for Historical Research in 1976.
1.17 It is not common knowledge that Taj Mahal is constructed of bricks.
Marble and red sandstone are used for lining only. The main dome for instance
is constructed of 13 foot thick brickwork lined with 6 inches thick marble.
Thus Taj Mahal is not a marble structure like the Dilwara Temples of
IS THERE ANY SENSIBLE REASON WHY HINDUS WOULD NOT HAVE BUILT
STRUCTURES IN BRICK? And once
they built in brick they had to use arches and domes, they could not use
columns, brackets and beams.
1.14.4 There are 12 Jyotirlingas or holy places of Lord Shiva. They are
-
|
1. Somnath (Gujrat) |
7 Rameshwar (Tamilnadu) |
|
2. Mallikarjunam ( Andhra Pradesh) |
8. Nageshwar (Dwaraka - Gujrat) |
|
3. Mahakaleshwar-Ujjain Madhya Pradesh) |
9 Vishveshvar ( |
|
4. Ankleslwar ( |
10.Tryambakeshwar (Nasik-- Maharashtra) |
|
5 Parli Vaijanath ( |
11 Kedareshwar ( |
|
6 Bhimashankar (Near |
12 Ghrushneshwar ( |
Mr Oak has informed us that Taj Mahal may be Nageshwar, as there are
uncertainties about it. Further research
into history of these holy places may throw some light.
1.14.5 On the North side of Taj Mahal exists a landing platform 4’6"
wide, running from
References –
(A) Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society,
(B) Annual Report of Archaeological Survey of
(C) Indian Archaeology - an annual of The Archaeological Survey of
India, Year 1960-61, plate CIII.
(D) Uttar Pradesh, a brochure of the Department of Tourism
Government of
1.15 Hindu Women in Muslim Harems
(A) In 1710 (i.e. 3 years after the death of Aurangzeb) when Bahadur
Shah started his religious war against the Sikhs, prominent Rajput princes held
a prolonged conference on -the border of the Pushkar lake and after full
deliberation proclaimed a solemn concerted policy – that they would not
henceforth give their daughters in marriage to Muslims and that if any prince
acted contrary to this resolution, the others should join and put down the deserter
by force if necessary. The declaration went further. The Ranas of Udaipur were acknowledged
to be of purer blood, having all along refused to give their daughters in
marriage to Muslims; so the Pushkar conference laid down that if any Rajput
prince had an issue from .a daughter of the Udaipur family that issue should be
given preference over those born from other wives in choosing a successor to
the vacant throne.
(New History of the Marathas "by G.S.Sardesai, Phoneix Publication,
Need we say how humiliating Hindus must have felt in those days for being
forced, to give their daughters to Muslims .in marriage? And yet historians
have us believe that Hindus were queueing to give their daughters to Muslim
rulers.
(B) Major C.L.Dutta was A.D.C. to Dr. Rajendra Prasad and. Dr S. Radhakrishnan
(1961-63). He tells us - The British Raj had named certain Indian races as
martial. In undivided
The folklore of the Mohyals exols the sacrifice of thousands of
lives in combat with the imperial Moghul army to prevent a Hindu girl from being
snatched away from her home to be inducted into the royal harem. There is the
amazing feat of Baba Praga, a general who at the age of 100 clove in two with
his sword a Moghul general and the horse he sat on. This happened in the reign
of Shahjahan.
(With Two Presidents by Kajor C.L.Datta, Vikas Publishing House
So even ordinary village folks would fight to death with the Mughal Army
to prevent Hindu girls from being taken away to Mughal harems.
Visit to
1.16 Report by Mr Godbole
16 December 1981
Left Mr Oak's house at 9 o'clock.
The party consisted of myself, M/s Oak, Bharadwaj, P.N.Sharma and his son
and Dr. P.B.Sharma. First place we visited is called Sultan Gadhi - Sultan
Iltutmish's son is said to have been buried here (1231 A.D.). Like many other
tombs there is no name inscribed. There is nothing that even looks like a tomb.
All the arches are of typical Hindu style. In 1959-60 several stone lintel c
with cow: and boars carved on them were- discovered (Ref. Indian Archaeology
1959-60 page 67). Now these have been secretly moved away to some unknown museum. Dr Sharma noticed a Shivalinga stone and took
a photograph.
Next place we visited is called Jamali Kamali. The plaque put up by Government
of India reads - It contains 2 graves one believed to be that of Jamali and
the other that of Kamali whose identity is unknown. (Bravo!). The main
building has 3 arches. There are lotus
flowers on both sides of arches. Over
the central arch one can clearly see a recess for Lord Ganesh. This building is
passed off as a Mosque..Mr P.N.Sharma pointed out to us how various carvings in
stone have been simply chiselled out by Muslim invaders. One can realise this
by looking at the walls a little bit carefully. While walking around the tombs
I informed the party members that the building containing the tombs was clearly
a Shiva Tenple. The
Shiva linga is always placed North South. Water dripping on it always flows
towards North. A hole in the North wall
and part of water passage can be seen quite clearly even today. Muslims are buried North South (head - North,
feet - South) with faces turned towards
Kutb Minar is nearby. A careful look at the carvings shows that the Arabic
inscriptions are of a later date than the floral decoration. At one side the
upper two storeys of the Tower are reconstructed. They fell down during an earthquake about 150
years ago. Construction of these two storeys is unmistakably Hindu. There were
27 temples surrounding the tower they represented the 27 Nakshatras
(constellations). Kutubuddin Aibak (c 1200) destroyed them. But he does not
claim to have erected the so called Quwwal - ul-Islam Mosque from the ruins. I
explained the fallacy when the party went inside the Mosque. The columns look
dissimilar at first sight, but closer examination reveals that they are all
identical. Muslim invaders have tried to chisel out the dieties and other
figures. Thus on some columns vie see no figures at all, on some they are
partially destroyed and on some they are completely intact. It is sheer folly
to suggest that the columns came from different temples.
Events from Ramayana or Mahabharat are inscribed on lintels. They seem
to have survived as they are -too fine to be destroyed. One must have a
telephoto lense to see and photograph these carvings.
While standing under the arched opening (in North or South wall) and looking
up one sees the (so called) Star of David on both arches, While walking around
the outside of the building we noticed Lord Ganesh carved on a stone (North
wall) near the ground. As no one would
place Lord Ganesh so low, there must be some portion of the building which lies
completely buried.
The famous iron pillar was erected by a king named Chandra whose
territory
extended from Bengal to
(Archaeological Survey of
There were several stones lying in the Archaeological Survey of India compound. These were found, during various repairs.
They show Muslim vandalism. On one side there are Hindu inscriptions, on the
other side Arabic inscriptions. Muslim rulers removed the stones, turned them
inside out and inscribed Arabic lettering on them, piece by piece. See photograph number 42 in Mr Oak's
collection. We were dismayed, to find that all such stones have been removed
to some unknown destination.
After a brief meal we went to Humayun's Tomb. This huge building is surrounded
by seven perimeter walls, one after another. The exnanse is very vast indeed.
(So called) Star of David is seen everywhere. The interlocked stars is in fact
a symbol of Goddess Bhavani. The dome has no lotus petals as it is a temple of
a Goddess. Trident on the pinnacle is unmistakable.
The real grave chamber is dark, full of earth and is inhabited by bats. The
grave itself is just a slab 2" above the ground-. I exchanged a few words with the attendant:
Godbole - Can you tell us where it says that this building is Humayun' s
tomb?
Attendant - It says so at the entrance gate.
Godbole - But that plate was put up by Government of
India. Where is the inscription on the grave?
Attendant — It is not there Sir.
Godbole - Then how am I supposed to believe that this building is the tomb
of Humayun? It can be anybody's tomb or it may even be no tomb at all.
Attendant - Yes that is possible.
As we went upstairs to the cenotaph chamber we noticed about 15 tombs on
the terrace, i.e. about 20ft. above the ground. Not even a fanatic Muslim could
justify them. In the cenotaph chamber Mr P N .Sharma made an important discovery. Surrounding the central octagonal chamber are
7 recesses. These were originally rooms for secondary dieties. Old style doors
are supported on vertical shafts which are fixed in stone- sockets at the top
and bottom. The doors have come but the stone sockets remain. Every recess has
small hole in wall. This is obviously for letting the water out when the deities
had bath.
We came out and walked around the terrace. The vandalism of Mughals is horrifying.
One only needs to look at the sizes of stones a bit carefully to realise the
enormous destruction. Stairways leading
to chambers in upper storeys were locked, up.
As the day was coming to an end myself and Mr Oak went over to Dr N:K.Bhide's
residence at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Dr and Mrs Bhide were
delighted to see me. Dr Bhide gave copies of some of his letters which would be
of interest to us.
In the evening a small gathering was arranged at Dr Sharma's residence at
Indian Institute of Technology. About 15 members were present. I explained the work
being carried out in
17 December 198!
Arrived at
18 December 1981 .
As the permission to see the locked portions was granted we met at Taj at
8:30. a.m. We saw the stories of the Entrance Gate, Baoli Burj Mosoque, Jawab, Central
Edifice, North East and North West Towers. I had to leave at 5.30 p.m. in order
to catch the Taj Express. Once again there was no time for any meals or tea.
And even then some parts of Taj Mahal were not seen. One should really have 4
days to see Taj. What was seen and discovered would take too long to describe. Mr
Athavale has tried to write a Tourist Guide to Taj and with extensive modifications
suggested by me a revised version is now being produced. It is hoped to publish
this as a booklet. However few hints for those who wish to see the locked
portions would be appropriate.
1. Ensure that you ask for official permission well in advance, say 3 to
4 weeks.
2 Carry two powerful torches.
3. Never upset any attendant. Remember that he may be earning only 5% of
your income, but he has the authority, he has the keys. Be humorous show sympathy
for his low pay and conditions, offer to take him out for a meal
4. Do not try to teach them that Taj Mahal is not a tomb, but a temple. Just
show your curiosity and. pretend. that you know nothing.
5. On Fridays admission is free, so many people come. If they see locks being
opened for you only, they ask why they too can't come in. The admission charge
is only 2 or 3 rupees. So please avoid. Fridays for seeing the locked portions.
19 Decenber 1981
It was a surprise to see Bhupendra Patel call at Mr Oak's house. We first
went to Red- Fort. Mr Oak pointed out that the models now displayed in the
shops, show: the pinnacle on Taj Mahal correctly. He then showed the Mughal Emperor’s
seat in Divan-i-Am and from the painting
in Bodleian Library Oxford the tampering with the seat becomes evident.
(Photo No 27 in Mr Oak's collection). The painting shows Shahjahan receiving an
Ambassador. Mr Oak explained that this is how successive Muslim rulers have
tried to obliterate the Hindu motifs. Where such motifs have survived it is
purely because the Muslim rulers were busy in feuds, wars, intrigues, or found
the removal too costly or impracticable, not because they were tolerant. The pigs
mouths on roof drain pipes were typical example. The vandalism in Pearl Mosque
is evident-the perambulatory passage is abruptly blocked up. Mr Patel noticed a
shivalinga stone at the top of outside of West wall.
One thing that should strike the visitor is the fact that the Fort is surrounded
by deep trenches on 3 sides only, and this was so even in Shahjahan's days. If
he did build the fort would he leave the fourth side so vulnerable?
I expressed my horror at the military barracks and steel water tank which
are quite out of place and very ugly in the surrounding.
After a brief meal went over to Fatehpuri Mosque. Once you know; where
to look for Hindu motifs it takes no time to realise that this is a captured temple.
We then went to Jama Masjid. It was originally a two storey Hindu
temple. The lower storey is completely sealed. One Major Archer E.W. of East
India Company did see the lower storey in 1828 (see Tours in
In the evening a get together vas arranged by Dr Sharma at IIT campus, slides
were shown and a discussion held with some Professors.
20 December 1981
Arrived at
21 December l"8l
As is customary with old. Poonaites, went to PARVATI the famous temple built
by the Peshwas. One does not normally notice the pointed arches. While standing
under the verandahs surrounding the main temple it was amazing to
see vaulted construction.
23 December 198l
Mr G.K.Bhide, Additional General Manager, Bharat Electronics, Pune, called.
He informed that a lecture has been arranged at a RSS branch meeting. Mr Vaze
called and. asked if it would be possible to go to THANE for Mr Oak's lecture. The invitation had to be turned down due to a
bad stomach ache.
24 December 1981
Visited the Datta temple next door.
It was surprising to see the so called Star of David on two pictures.
This star is a Hindu symbol and is seen in prayer books of Lord Ganesh,
Dattatreya and Goddess Laxmi. This discovery was amazing. It is surprising how
little Hindus know about themselves.
28 December 198l (Monday)
Attended a RSS branch meeting. One hour lecture was followed by question
and answer session. About 25 members attended. One question was – What about
Persian Architect? The answer was -
Could you tell us of any building in:
29 December 1981
Met Mr and Mrs Ambikar. They took: me to Mrs Kavita Naravane, Professor
of history at
30 December 1981
Rang Dr Mate. He said "some well known historians like Dr G.H.Khare
are interested in your work. Could, you come to Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal
for a. discussion?" (B.I.S.M is the famous historical research
society of Pune). I gladly accepted the invitation.
Met Mr Jewan Kulkarni, our life member from
31 December 1981
Mr Damle who organised my lecture at the RSS branch meeting took me to Dr
P N Joshi, a well known educationist. He expressed no desire even to see the
file on GREAT BRITISH CONSPIRACY. He simply believes that there was no such
conspiracy. I picked up Sir M. Wheeler's book "Splendours of the
East" from a shelf and read from page 69 — "Architecture of the Hindus
is the architecture of a jungle man". Dr Joshi replied "Oh I do not
think he means it that way." There was
no point in any further discussion. You can awake some one who is fast asleep
but not if he pretends to be asleep.
We then net Mr Gadre, chief of RSS of Pune. We discussed various ways of
furthering our work. Mr Gadre suggested
that I should contact Mr Vishnu Shahani, Secretary of the newly formed Sindhi
Society and Mr Wagh editor of
In the afternoon net my brother-in-law Prof Athavle. He works full tine for
Vishva Hindu Parishad. In his lectures he does refer to our research findings As
the editor of Marathi monthly "Samanvaya" he promised to give publicity
to our work in that magazine. He said
that though he sympathises with our work he cannot join in the research side as he is already fully committed
to the work of the Parishad. Later on he
took me to Mr Patki Manager of Tarun Bharat (daily), Mr Gadre, Office Manager
of Ekata (Monthly) and Br V.V.Pendse of Dnyan Prabodhini.
In the evening I went to Bharat Itihas Sarashodhak Mandel to see Dr Mate.
He said that due to very short time he could not arrange a meeting; but requested
to keep any leaflets I had. He
introduced me to three history professors.
In the brief discussion I said that two of our letters were already
published in the RIBA journal, copies of which were already sent to Dr Khare
the president of the Manual, we expect our opponents to write to the RIBA
journal and come out in open. Prof Kulkarni agreed that Dr Khare did receive
the copies of those letters. Dr Mate
promised to look into the matter.
(A reminder was sent to him on 14 March, but he has still not replied.)
1 January 1982
Visited
The arches and domes are to be noted. Under the domes one sees the lotus
petals. Signs of old doorway at the entrance are still there. It is impossible to visualise how: many
millions of such precious doors were looted by foreign invaders.,
2 January 1982
Met Prof Nande. a friend since school days. He promised to get my
article published. in "Prabodhirii Patrika" a bulletin circulated among
Professors and intellectuals. He also promised to contact the editor of Loksatta
(Marathi daily from
3 January 1982
A full day meeting with Dr Bedekar, M/s Pradhan, Gadre, and Gokhale from
Thane. It was heartening to know that they recently enrolled 50 new life members.
We discussed various ways in which we can help each other, pitfalls we should
avoid, direction our work ought to take and ways of making it most effective.
It was a pity that though there are 15 members in Pune no meeting could
be arranged with them.
4 January 1982
Came to
On the whole the visit was very useful and encouraging. There is a group of determined young men in
Thane who would see the work through all the difficulties.
( Note – Films given by Mr H Gokhale have been developed and prints
obtained from his other negatives. Half the cost was paid by Dr Lalwani and half
by Mr B. Patel. 63 photographs of Taj Mahal have been selected. A list is enclosed.
If you are interested in copies of any, please contact me on 0234-57388- (Home)
or
01-.846-2835 (Office).
2. Mr A. Bhat (01- 684-1295)
India Office Library has a book - published in 1801, containing a plan
of Taj Mahal. Mr Bhat, though not our member, obtained a copy for us. We are very
grateful to him.
3.Dr N K Bhide (New:
He sent us a brochure on Dayalbag in
4.Mr N.Chauhan
He has now moved from Wolverhampton to
30 Curzon Close
Allestre Tel no.
5.Mr P Gogate (Thane Branch)
He recently came to
6.Mr Harsharaj A. Kale (
He suffered a severe heart attack in February. As a result of this there
will be some delay in printing and distribution of our annual report. We have
received from him a copy of the list of all our members. Anyone interested in
obtaining a copy for himself should contact Mr Godbole. We pray for Kr Kale's
speedy recovery.
7. Dr K T Lalvani (01-453-3889)
He tried to get Mr Godbole'e analysis of Taj Mahal legend published in Des
Pardes, Punjab Times and Garvi Gujrat, but did not succeed.
8..Mr B. Patel (01-203- 4408)
He too tried to got Gujrati translation of Mr Godbole's analysis
published in Des Pardes, "but had no luck.
9 Mr M. Patel (01-452 3900)
On his recent visit to
10.Mr A Pradhan. (01-863- 5738)
Though he is not our member he was interested in our photographs of Taj Mahal
He pointed out how Muslims when misusing Hindu buildings have left their
marks of vandalism. In many instances they are visible only to the trained eye
of an Architect. His information is very valuable. We have passed it on to Mr
Gokhale of
11.Book Reviews
11.1 Why we killed. Gandhi? -by
Gopal Godse, Vitasta Prakashan, Pune, Third edition 1974.
Gopal Godse is 'brother of Nathuram Godse who shot Gandhi. Congress Government
ensured that his story was never told. Gopal Godse first wrote this book in Marathi
in 1964. It was banned "by Government of India, a legal battle was fought
in Bombay High Court and Godse won. Since then the book has been translated in
Gujrati (Gandhi hatya Matta Manu) , and Hindi (Gandhi hatya aur Mai - a copy
available in
Godse wishes to publish English translation of his book. He needs a sum
of 24000 Rupees. He has been offered 1000 Rupees by one friend, Mr Godbole has
promised another thousand. If you want
to help please write to –
Gopal Godse
General Secretary
Akhi Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha
Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan
Mandir Karg
Alternatively you may contact Mr Godbole.
11.2 The War of the Springing Tigers by G.H Corr, Osprey
Publications,
There are many misconcepts .about Indian National Army raised by Subhash
Chandra Bose. Mr Corr tells us - Hitler had no sympathy for
Corr also deals with earlier attempts
of armed revolts.
This book: is now out of print out a copy is availble in Bedford Central
Library.
11.3 The R.S.S. story by K. R. Malkani, published by impex India of New
Delhi,
1981
Very little is known about the R.S.S. except the vicious propaganda by
Congress, Communists and Socialists. We
therefore welcome this book.
Mr Malkani tells us of relations "between R.S.S. 'and Gandhiji.
Gandhiji attended, a R.S.S. shakha at Wardha in 1934 and. expressed his
surprise at how R.S.S. induced- all castes of Hindus to work together. It is
not commonly known that R.S.S. had some offices in Bhangi Colony,
It is also not known to many that Dr Ambedkar also attended a R.S.S. function
in
The book is definitely worth reading, though it lacks authenticity as
very few references are given.
11.4
£10.55.
We mentioned this book in Newsletter No.6. Copy of the review of this
book which appeared in the Economist (November 7, 1981 pp 113/4), is attached.
The book is currently available at
BOOKS
The riches of the east
By John Keay. Windward.
288 pages. £10.95.
"Some day", asserted A.
J. Arberry in 1943, "the whole story of British Indology will be told and
that will assuredly make a glorious, fascinating and inspiring narrative".
It does. One must be grateful to Mr John Keay for telling the story of the
historians of
In 1765 the last emperor of the Moghul dynasty signed a treaty with
Clive ceding the administration of the state of
John Keay's book takes his readers through those 125 years when the
required reading for anybody serving in
It is therefore hardly surprising that the British in
civilisation or people. Their cannon deliberately blew up Indian
fortresses; their
contractors pulled down palaces to use as ballast for railway tracks;
British officers whitewashed murals in stately homes to make the places fitter
for their own use; temples were used as Army coffee shops. At one time balls
were given on the terrace of the Taj Mahal.
Against this philistine backdrop came men like Jones, Prinsep,
Cunningham, Fergusson, Hodgson, Havell and many others who tried to come to
terms with this alien culture, financially supported by other European
governments because the Raj found the discoveries of these men too grandiose
for its own comfort. Thus, by some splendid irony, the Raj through a British
scholarship to which it gave little support paid its debt to
Even these scholars and preservers, however, for all their intelligence
and courage, were no less prejudiced than their compatriots. Having made some crucial discovery, they
would often go to great lengths to argue that it could not be of purely Indian
origin because Indians were not capable of such things and therefore the
inspiration must have been "foreign". Until the Buddha's birthplace was
actually discovered and identified through writings, it was claimed, for example,
that the Buddha was not an Indian. The same was true of art discoveries like
the Sanchi torso (now at the
One of the most intractable rumours maintained that the marble inlay
work at the Taj Mahal had really been done by craftsmen imported from
One of the more amusing predicaments of the British had been that it had
been impossible to prove that
Until the late eighteenth century nothing was known in Europe about
There could have been no greater salute, writes Mr Keay in this
important corrective book, "by a conquering power to an older, nobler and
more enduring civilisation".