An attempt by the Marxists to sabotage India’s history has been brought to light by an eminent archaeologist. KK Mohammed, former regional director, Archaeological Survey of India has said that Prof Irfan Habib, a widely respected Marxist historian, tried to scuttle and sabotage the former’s research findings about Ibadat Khana (House of Worship), built in 1575 by Emperor Akbar.

It was a team of archaeologists led by Prof Mohammed who successfully and scientifically excavated the Ibadat Khana, situated between Fatehpur Sikri and Jodhabai Mahal in New Delhi and described it as a symbol of Akbar’s secularism.

Mohammed, who shot into international fame when he led Barack Obama, the US president who visited India in 2011 for a study tour to historical landmarks in New Delhi like Humayun’s Tomb, has come out with startling revelations about how a group of historians led by Prof Habib manipulated the historical research and excavations in the country. “Prof Habib was bent upon destroying the research findings on Ibadat Khana, an internationally recognised prayer and debating hall built by Akbar,” Mohammed writes in his autobiography Njan Enna Bharatheeyan (Me, the Indian). Mohammed also stands out in Indian society as the first devote Muslim who scientifically proved that the controversial Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was constructed over the ruins of a Ram temple.

The remnants of Ibadat Khana was excavated by Mohammed and his team under the over all guidance of Prof Khaliq Ahmed Nizami, the then head of the department of history and Prof RC Gaur of AMU. Mohammed, then an assistant archaeologist in AMU was attracted by the writings on Ibadat Khana by historians from Persia and a 1605 painting by Nar Singh, a painter in the court of Akbar.

Ibadat Khana was built by Akbar to serve as a venue for colloquiums on spirituality and religions by scholars who frequented his court. Some of the regulars in his court were Rodolfo Acqaviva and Francisco Henriques, two Jewish priests from the Europe. Ibadat Khana was a subject on which lord Tennyson wrote the poem Akbar’s Dreams.  Mohammed has given an exciting account of the excavation.

By the time the excavation was completed in 1984, Prof Habib was re-appointed as the HoD of history in AMU. “I was summoned by Prof Habib to his chamber and ordered me to give in writing that what we excavated was not Ibadat Khana. I stood my ground and reminded Prof Habib that he was only a historian while I was an archaeologist,” said Mohammed. Habib was taken aback by the  confidence of Mohammed and gave up his efforts. 

Mohammed said Habib’s animosity towards him began even as he applied for the post of a research scholar in AMU while the letter was the HoD. “Prof Habib and his friends do not want anything which they dislike to happen in their domain. They use all kid of evil techniques to demolish and destroy the careers of students whom they do not like,” said Mohammed. 

Prof MGS Narayanan, former chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research, who has written the foreword, said that a cartel of historians control the historical research in the country to further their vested interests. “They will resort to any extreme measure to finish off people whom they do not like. Prof Habib favours people who sing paeans,” writes Prof Narayanan.