Sambhal Will Not Be Last: The Real Survey?
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NOVEMBER 2024
Is this the real survey in Sambhal—or Indians missing the bigger picture?
Sambhal, a town in Uttar Pradesh, has become the latest flashpoint in India’s long and tragic history of communal strife.
The riots that erupted here are neither isolated nor unprecedented; they echo the violence seen in Bareilly, Aligarh, Bahraich, Delhi, Nuh, and countless other places across the country.
The grim truth is that this is not new.
Communal tensions have marred the subcontinent’s history for over two centuries, with records dating back to 1805.
Time and again, innocent lives are sacrificed at the altar of hatred. Yet, the key question remains: have India learned anything from these tragedies, or are we doomed to endlessly repeat them?
We hear slogans about protecting religion, but what truly lies beneath these riots?
Rather than promoting peace, certain sections of the media—often dubbed Godi media—use diversionary tactics, amplifying divisive narratives while evading accountability.
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Communal tensions have marred the subcontinent’s history for over two centuries, with records dating back to 1805.
But let’s pause and ask: why Sambhal, and why now?
To understand its significance, we must recognize that this isn’t just another riot. It’s the latest chapter in an age-old political playbook, where faith and history are weaponized for polarization.
These two volatile elements—faith and history—are making India increasingly toxic and communally explosive.
What Happened in Sambhal?
The sequence of events began when eight petitioners approached a lower court in Sambhal, claiming that the Jama Masjid in the town stood atop the ruins of a temple—the Harihar Temple—destroyed by Babur in 1526.
Acting on this claim, the court ordered a survey.
Unusually, the survey was conducted within hours—a rare display of efficiency in the Indian legal system.
Surprisingly, the exercise passed peacefully, and the matter seemed resolved. Life in Sambhal could have returned to normalcy.
But then came the twist.
A week later, the petitioners returned to the mosque for another survey, this time accompanied by a group chanting provocative slogans.
The spark was lit, and the town erupted in violence.
Five lives were lost, including a 17-year-old boy. His dreams and future were extinguished by a bullet. While the police deny firing into the crowd, videos circulating online suggest otherwise.
A Bigger Question: Why Was the Survey Even Allowed?
India’s Places of Worship Act, 1991 is explicit: the status of all places of worship must remain as they were on August 15, 1947—except for the Ayodhya dispute.
This law was crafted to preserve communal harmony and prevent the reopening of ancient wounds. So how did this survey get sanctioned?
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Five lives were lost, including a 17-year-old boy
The answer lies in a precedent set by the Supreme Court.
In the Gyanvapi mosque case in Varanasi, former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud remarked that even frivolous matters of faith deserved respect.
His judgment permitted a non-invasive survey of the Gyanvapi site, unintentionally creating a precedent now exploited in Sambhal.
The fear is clear: Sambhal will not be the last!
From Qutub Minar to the Taj Mahal and Delhi’s Jama Masjid, thousands of sites could become flashpoints, tearing apart the fabric of India’s diversity.
The irony is that Sambhal’s Jama Masjid has been a protected monument since the 1920s, first under British rule and later by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Ignoring this protection to chase political gains raises grave concerns about the rule of law and justice in the country.
A Dangerous Pandora’s Box is Opened
The Ayodhya judgment celebrated the Places of Worship Act, 1991, calling it a constitutional cornerstone and a testament to India’s commitment to diversity and equality.
Yet recent decisions risk unraveling this harmony, opening a Pandora’s box of disputes.
Sambhal could become a turning point—a moment where we either uphold or undermine the spirit of the Constitution.
Indian should Learn Beyond the Past
For over two centuries, Hindu-Muslim tensions have scarred the subcontinent’s history. The past 35 years alone have seen Ayodhya become a flashpoint for hatred, claiming countless lives and devastating communities.
The economic toll of these disputes is immeasurable, and India’s image as a tolerant society has suffered deeply.
Yet we’ve never conducted a survey of the damage these communal conflicts have caused.
Why don’t we count the dreams shattered, the families destroyed, and the opportunities lost?
Instead, we expend time and resources digging into grievances from 500 years ago.
And if we insist on digging into history, why stop at 500 years?
Shouldn’t we also survey the temples destroyed during India’s ancient history, when Buddhism and Jainism faced suppression? The cycle of religious conquest and destruction is endless—that’s history.
But history need not dictate our present or future.
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The past 35 years alone have seen Ayodhya become a flashpoint for hatred...
Lessons from the World for Indians
While India clings to ancient disputes, the world has moved on.
Japan and the United States, once bitter enemies during World War II, are now allies, collaborating on cutting-edge technologies.
France and Britain, rivals for centuries, built a tunnel under the English Channel, transforming geography and history.
And Germany, once synonymous with the horrors of Hitler, is now a beacon of resilience and progress, leading modern Europe.
Yet here in India, we dig into mosques, reopening old wounds while proudly celebrating British traditions, speaking English with pride, and playing cricket.
The Political Playbook
Make no mistake: this cycle of dispute, survey, and unrest is not random. It follows a formula designed to polarize and consolidate votes.
1. Create disputes over religious sites.
2. Drag these disputes into court under a pretense of legality.
3. Conduct surveys.
4. Amplify divisions through provocations.
5. Polarize communities.
6. Solidify vote banks.
This time, the target is Uttar Pradesh.
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Germany, once synonymous with the horrors of Hitler, is now a beacon of resilience and progress...
The Real Survey
Why aren’t the people of Uttar Pradesh demanding a real survey—one of their state’s economic and social performance?
Uttar Pradesh struggles with staggering unemployment. Thousands of youth migrate to cities like Mumbai daily in search of work.
Government hospitals lack basic facilities, schools crumble, and opportunities for growth are scarce.
These issues deserve attention. These are the matters that demand surveys.
Instead, the youth of Uttar Pradesh are drawn into battles of the past, fueling unrest that scares away investors and stifles progress.
The Choice Before India
While the world embraces peace and progress, India risks being left behind, clinging to grievances from the 15th century in a 21st-century world.
India is at a crossroads.
Will Indians continue this cycle of hatred, or rise above it?
The choice is ours. The future is ours to shape.
The country needs to survey For justice. For peace. For progress.
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