For the first time in over four decades, the Gauri Shankar mandir in the Jhabbu Nala Mohalla of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been reopened to the public, unveiling shocking remnants of a long-forgotten past that had been sealed by communal violence in 1980. This reopening marks not only the revival of a place of worship but also brings to the forefront painful memories of a violent chapter in Moradabad’s history—one that saw the brutal killing of the mandir’s pandit, Bhimsen, the desecration of sacred murtis, and the systematic suppression of religious freedom.
The closure of the Gauri Shankar mandir is intricately tied to the deadly Moradabad riots of 1980, a tragic episode that changed the course of communal relations in the region. On August 13, 1980, a pig was reported to have wandered into an Idgah in Moradabad during a group of Muslims offering prayers. The incident, though seemingly trivial, triggered an explosive wave of violence when a mob of Muslim fundamentalists descended upon the area, enraged by what they perceived as an insult to their faith. The violence that followed was unprecedented, resulting in the deaths of 84 people and the injury of over 100 others. The riot was marked by horrific acts of brutality, including the cold-blooded murder of Bhimsen, the revered pandit of Gauri Shankar mandir.
At the time, Moradabad was a volatile communal flashpoint, and the violence that erupted was not an isolated incident. The riot was part of a larger, orchestrated conspiracy that sought to exploit existing religious tensions for political gain. Local Muslim League leaders, including Dr Shamim Ahmed Khan, who was trying to position himself against Congress leader Hafiz Mohammed Siddiqui, were believed to be at the helm of the violence. Political ambitions, coupled with the unprovoked violence, created an environment ripe for widespread destruction and bloodshed.
During the 1980 riots, Bhimsen, the pandit of Gauri Shankar mandir, was brutally murdered by the rioters. Reports from the time suggest that his body was thrown into a fire by the attackers, and his death went unacknowledged for years. In the aftermath of his murder, the mandir itself fell victim to the mob’s fury. The mandir’s doors were bricked shut, debris was dumped inside, and the sacred murtis of Bhagwan Shiva, Nandi, Bhagwan Ganesha, and Bhagwan Kartikeya were destroyed or looted. With the mandir sealed off, the once-thriving religious site became a forgotten space, hidden behind brick walls and shrouded in the trauma of past violence.
The mandir remained closed for 44 years until a courageous plea from Seva Ram, the grandson of the slain pandit Bhimsen, led to its reopening. Seva Ram, who had long been fighting for the restoration of the mandir, approached the District Magistrate of Moradabad, Anuj Singh, with an official application to reopen the site. The community, too, rallied behind the cause, staging a demonstration to demand that the mandir be reopened and restored to its former glory. Their efforts culminated in a thorough investigation by the local administration.
The Moradabad Municipal Corporation team, led by the District Magistrate, began the process of cleaning the mandir on December 30, 2024. The team uncovered broken murtis of Bhagwan Shiva, Nandi, Bhagwan Ganesha, and Bhagwan Kartikeya from the sanctum sanctorum, buried under layers of dust and debris. A missing Shivling was also noted in the mandir’s grounds, with only the place where it once stood still visible. As the team cleared the debris, it became apparent that the mandir had been sealed off with illegal brick walls, making access to the site nearly impossible.
The reopening of Gauri Shankar mandir has also shed light on the role of a transgender woman named Mohini, who had been tasked with cleaning the mandir before its closure. Her involvement highlights the mandir’s long history of inclusivity and the deep ties that various community members, regardless of gender or background, had with the sacred space. However, despite her efforts, the mandir was sealed off, and the community’s access to it was entirely cut off.
One of the most poignant aspects of the mandir’s reopening is the tragic story of Bhimsen’s family. After his death, the rest of Bhimsen’s family, including Seva Ram, was forced to relocate to Linepar, a nearby area. Seva Ram recalls how, for years, whenever he attempted to visit the mandir to reopen it, local Muslims in the region would prevent him from doing so, often threatening him with dire consequences. Despite these obstacles, Seva Ram persisted, and with the support of the local community, he finally succeeded in his long-standing battle to restore the mandir.
The reopening of the Gauri Shankar mandir has also brought a more profound and politically charged narrative regarding the 1980 Moradabad riots. A 496-page inquiry report, released in August 2023, delves into the true causes of the riots and challenges the long-standing narrative that it was triggered by a pig entering the Idgah. The report points to a premeditated conspiracy involving political figures, including Dr Shamim Ahmed Khan, who was attempting to build support among the Muslim population to undermine the local Congress leader, Hafiz Mohammed Siddiqui. The report also includes testimonies from Hindus who were eyewitnesses to the violence, revealing that the riots were not a spontaneous eruption of religious fervour but a planned attack fueled by political motives.
The 1980 riots left deep scars on the community, and the reopening of Gauri Shankar mandir serves as a symbolic step towards healing these wounds. However, while the mandir’s physical restoration is significant, it is also a reminder of the trauma and injustice that the victims of the riots suffered. The recovery of broken murtis and the return of the mandir to its rightful place is a step toward reclaiming the cultural heritage that was stolen from the community during the violence.
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