A large-scale public protest erupted in Udaipur’s Mavli block, with thousands of people from the Hindu community taking to the streets to express their opposition to the allotment of land for a madrasa by the Congress government in 2021. This protest, led by various Hindu organisations, resulted in the closure of markets across Mavli and nearby areas, as demonstrators called for the immediate revocation of the land allotment.
The rally culminated in a significant act of religious devotion, with protesters sitting on the streets to recite the Hanuman Chalisa, a traditional Hindu hymn, further escalating the emotional and cultural dimensions of the protest. The demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), demanding that the state government cancel the land allocation, citing cultural and geographical concerns.
The controversy dates back to 2021, when the Congress-led government under then-Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made the decision to allocate approximately four bighas and 16 biswas of land for the establishment of a madrasa in Mavli, a small town located about 40 kilometers from Udaipur’s district headquarters. The madrasa, an Islamic educational institution, was intended to serve the local Muslim population. However, the decision to allocate land for its construction soon became a contentious issue.
*मावली उदयपुर मदरसा हेतु आवंटन जमीन के विरोध में जन आक्रोश महारैली!!#Udaipur #Mavli #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/gD7tglT84d
— RAKESH AMETA-MEWAR…LAKECITY (@RAKESHAMETA13) September 23, 2024
Opponents of the allotment argue that the land is located in a waterlogged area, making it unfit for construction. Furthermore, it is positioned near significant Hindu religious sites, including temples and a crematorium, raising concerns about the appropriateness of placing a religious institution of another faith in such proximity. Local Hindu groups have since argued that the construction of the madrasa on this land could lead to social tension and disrupt the cultural harmony of the area.
The issue gained further traction after allegations that the land allocation was linked to the Abdul Rahman case, which involved the controversial activities of a local cleric. This association has fueled public sentiment against the madrasa, adding a political and communal dimension to the controversy.
On September 23, 2024, the long-simmering tension over the land allotment reached a boiling point, as thousands of people from Mavli and surrounding villages assembled at the old bus stand to participate in a protest organised under the banner of ‘Sarva Samaj‘ (All Communities). The demonstrators, largely led by Hindu organisations, carried saffron flags adorned with images of Bajrang Bali (Hanuman), a symbol of their religious devotion and their collective stand against the land allotmen.
The protest saw a massive turnout from not only Udaipur’s Mavli block but also nearby areas, including Fatehnagar, Sanwad, Ghassa, Dabok, Palanakalan, and Khemli, where markets were closed in solidarity with the demonstrators. Shops remained shuttered, and roads were empty, with even schools declaring a holiday in anticipation of the protest.
The large-scale mobilisation of people, particularly from rural areas, underscored the widespread discontent against the 2021 decision. Many protesters highlighted that the location of the madrasa posed a risk of communal friction in the future, given its proximity to Hindu religious sites.
A defining feature of the protest was the public recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa by the demonstrators. Sitting on the streets near the SDM office, protesters invoked the blessings of Bhagwan Hanuman, reciting hymns and bhajans to demonstrate their religious sentiments. The chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa is considered an act of devotion and spiritual defiance, symbolising the protesters’ firm belief that the land allotment must be reversed to protect the sanctity of the area.
This religious display carried immense symbolic weight, as the protesters linked their cultural and religious identity to the issue of land allocation. The act of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa in public spaces sent a clear message to the local administration and the state government: the protesters were not merely expressing political dissent but were also invoking religious values to safeguard what they viewed as their cultural heritage.
The protest rally, which started from Mavli’s old bus stand and passed through the local market, eventually reached the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), where a memorandum was submitted to SDM Mansukhram Damor. The memorandum, addressed to Rajasthan’s Chief Minister, called for the immediate cancellation of the land allotted for the madrasa, reiterating concerns over the location’s suitability and the potential for communal tension.
The protesters also highlighted that the land in question was prone to waterlogging, further supporting their argument that it was not an appropriate site for constructing any institution, let alone one as sensitive as a madrasa.
The protest received significant political backing from BJP leaders, particularly Chittorgarh MP CP Joshi, who joined the demonstrators at the protest site. Speaking to the media, Joshi expressed his support for the protesters, stating that public sentiment must be respected, and that the allotment of land for the madrasa was unnecessary.
Joshi emphasised that the BJP-led government in Rajasthan, which he referred to as a “Sanatani government” (a government adhering to the values of Sanatan Dharma), would not allow any decision that caused discomfort to the people. “We will ensure that the land allotment is canceled, as it does not align with the cultural and geographical realities of Mavli,” Joshi declared, reiterating his opposition to the Congress government’s decision.
In response to the protest and the submission of the memorandum, SDM Mansukhram Damor submitted his report to the District Magistrate, recommending the cancellation of the land allotment for the madrasa. Damor’s report cited the unsuitable, waterlogged nature of the land and the potential for future conflicts, given the site’s proximity to Hindu temples and a crematorium.
The district administration is now expected to act on the SDM’s report, adding to the mounting pressure on the state government to reverse the 2021 decision.
