‘We waited decades for Bhojshala court verdict’:After winning decade-long battle, activists recall lathicharge, arrests years of protests

The court’s decision has come in my lifetime. This is a matter of good fortune for me. My companions and I have struggled a lot to prove that Bhojshala is a temple. Saying this, the eyes of 95-year-old Vimal Godha light up. Godha was among those who fought to establish Bhojshala as the temple of Vagdevi, with the Bhoj Utsav Samiti playing an active role in the movement. Committee patron Ashok Kumar Jain had initiated the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa at Bhojshala. After the Indore bench of the High Court recognised Bhojshala as the temple of Vagdevi on May 16, Bhaskar spoke to people associated with the campaign, who recalled their years-long struggle. Era of politics and suppression
Vimal Godha states that between 1993 and 2003, during the Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh, there was a direct confrontation between the agitators and the administration. During that period, Section 144, preventive arrests, and restrictions on the entry of outside saints were common. Several cases were registered against the workers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal on charges of ‘breach of peace’. The agitators alleged that the government was controlling Hindu worship rights, while the administration described it as an exercise to maintain communal harmony. The horrific scene of 2003
Vimal says that this struggle was not just for men. Women also showed unprecedented courage in it. Recalling the lathi-charge of 2003, he says, that day was Basant Panchami. We wanted to worship in Bhojshala, but the Digvijay government had deployed heavy police force to stop us. We had formed four groups so that we could reach Bhojshala through different routes. Permission for worship granted after this movement
Godha says that women were not spared either. After that movement, Hindus were granted permission to perform Aarti at Bhojshala every Tuesday. Vimal Godha, who has been going to Bhojshala since fifth grade, still participates in the Aarti every Tuesday. For him, witnessing the court’s decision in his lifetime is nothing short of good fortune. Journey from school bag to Satyagraha
The story of Bhoj Utsav Committee patron Ashok Kumar Jain is similar. Associated with the movement since 1965, he says that as a child, he would go straight to Bhojshala from school. He recalls that they wanted to celebrate Basant Panchami and perform puja, but were pushed out and faced false cases during the then Congress government. Following a call by Sadhvi Ritambhara in 1992, the Hanuman Chalisa recitation began at Bhojshala every Tuesday. When it was banned during the government of Digvijaya Singh, the movement intensified. Finally, an ASI order on April 4, 2003, paved the way for regular worship there. Roots of the dispute
The history of Bhojshala is linked to King Bhoj of the 11th century. He established it as a centre for Sanskrit education and art. There was a grand temple of Mother Saraswati (Vagdevi) here. Later, the Kamal Maula Mosque was built here, making this site a focal point of claims by two communities. Waiting for Vagdevi’s ‘Homecoming’
The most emotional aspect of this dispute is the idol of Mother Vagdevi, which British officials took from India to London around 1875-1880. This beautiful black stone idol is currently housed in the British Museum. Hindu organisations believe that until the original idol returns, the struggle remains incomplete. Currently, a new idol has been prepared in Gwalior, which is planned to be installed as a symbol. How the court case proceeded Petition filed in 2022 The case began in 2022 when Ranjana Agnihotri and others, on behalf of Hindu Front for Justice, moved the High Court seeking the determination of Bhojshala’s religious character and full rights for Hindus. In 2024, the Archaeological Survey of India conducted a 98-day scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex in connection with the case. On January 23, 2026, coinciding with Vasant Panchami, the Supreme Court allowed uninterrupted worship throughout the day. Regular hearings in the High Court were then held from April 6 to May 12, 2026. Hindu side presented temple claim From April 6 to 9, lawyers Vishnu Shankar Jain, Vinay Joshi, and the main petitioner, Ashish Goyal, argued that Bhojshala is a temple, presenting historical and archaeological evidence, including temple remains, pillars, inscriptions, and Saraswati-related symbols found in ASI surveys and records. The petitioners also cited British-era gazetteers and historians’ accounts describing Bhojshala as a Saraswati temple and centre of learning, along with Sanskrit and ancient Nagari inscriptions and the long tradition of worship on Vasant Panchami. They further argued that several structural elements predate Islamic architecture, indicating a temple form. Four other petitions and one appeal were also clubbed with the main case. Muslim side questioned ASI survey The Muslim side argued that the complex has long functioned as Kamal Maula Mosque and that determining its religious character falls under the civil court’s jurisdiction. Senior Supreme Court advocate Salman Khurshid questioned the ASI survey report, saying the survey’s pictures and videography lacked clarity. He also argued that, unlike the Ayodhya case, Bhojshala does not have an established idol.