News for 'Mughal India'

National winter games in Kashmir postponed

National winter games in Kashmir postponed

Rediff.com17 Feb 2025

Around 300 athletes were expected to compete in four snow sports -- ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, snowboard, and Nordic skiing -- in the games, which had been due to be held from February 22 to 25.

'Small thing, got really wild': Abu Azmi's son breaks silence on Goa clash

'Small thing, got really wild': Abu Azmi's son breaks silence on Goa clash

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

Abu Farhan Azmi, son of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, has denied brandishing a weapon in a fight in Goa, calling the incident a "small thing" that got out of hand. He maintains he is not against the coastal state and has been visiting Goa for 20 years. Azmi's father has recently faced criticism for comments praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Food Trends At Weddings Reach New Heights

Food Trends At Weddings Reach New Heights

Rediff.com13 Mar 2025

Customised restaurant recreations, cafe setups, pop-ups by Michelin-star chefs, bespoke table linens with monograms and couple-themed hashtags.

Did Shami Take A Dip In The Sangam, As Yogi said?

Did Shami Take A Dip In The Sangam, As Yogi said?

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Neither Mohammed Shami nor Mohammed Kaif traveled to the Maha Kumbh Mela.

Is Yogi scared of the Mughals?

Is Yogi scared of the Mughals?

Rediff.com19 Oct 2018

'The Mughals became completely Indian in every sense and united the vast Indian subcontinent, not only territorially, but also the hearts and minds of people with multiple religio-cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversities' 'The Mughals, arguably, made India an enviable superpower in the then world.' 'Are the Hindutva rulers of today scared of acknowledging Mughal accomplishments?' asks Mohammad Sajjad.

Whitewashing of Sambhal mosque begins amid Hindu side's objection

Whitewashing of Sambhal mosque begins amid Hindu side's objection

Rediff.com16 Mar 2025

The Allahabad high court on March 12 directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake and complete the whitewashing at the mosque within one week.

Removal of Aurangzeb's grave won't serve any purpose: Athawale

Removal of Aurangzeb's grave won't serve any purpose: Athawale

Rediff.com16 Mar 2025

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has voiced his opposition to the demand for demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, saying its removal will not serve any purpose. Athawale said that since Aurangzeb was buried there, his tomb should remain undisturbed. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar administration has barred Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote from entering the district from March 16 to April 5 amid calls from some outfits to remove Aurangzeb's grave. Security has been heightened around the site and visitors are being checked thoroughly.

MP Cong leader likens Parshuram to Aurangzeb; gets showcause notice

MP Cong leader likens Parshuram to Aurangzeb; gets showcause notice

Rediff.com17 Mar 2025

The notice further highlights that the Congress party is a secular-based party, which respects every religion and society in India equally.

History In Minutes: Javed Akhtar's Freedom Fighter Family

History In Minutes: Javed Akhtar's Freedom Fighter Family

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

Syed Firdaus Ashraf offers a ready reckoner on Javed Akhtar's great great grandfather Fazl e Haq Khairabadi who fought the British empire during the 1857 Mutiny and was imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair.

Why Chhaava Has Become Controversial

Why Chhaava Has Become Controversial

Rediff.com27 Jan 2025

Loud music, bombastic action scenes, over-the-top dialogues that don't have any ring of truth to it followed by scenes of blood-oozing bodies floating in a river definitely don't make for a magnum opus!' exclaims Prasanna D Zore after watching the Chhaava trailer.

Ploughing his field, UP farmer finds swords, rifles used in 1857 rebellion

Ploughing his field, UP farmer finds swords, rifles used in 1857 rebellion

Rediff.com8 Nov 2024

A host of weapons, possibly used during the rebellion of 1857, was found by a farmer while working in his field in the district, an official said on Friday.

'Shivaji, Sambhaji Were Secular, Visionary Kings'

'Shivaji, Sambhaji Were Secular, Visionary Kings'

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

'Shivaji and Sambhaji followed the gospel of humanity. 'They did not discriminate based on religion, caste, or colour.' 'That is the beauty of Shivaji and Sambhaji's Hindvi Swaraj.'

Do You Know About The Battle Of Diu?

Do You Know About The Battle Of Diu?

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

Why the Battle of Diu is as historic as the Battle of Trafalgar.

Check Out Wedding Decor Trends!

Check Out Wedding Decor Trends!

Rediff.com27 Feb 2025

Wedding decor is going beyond aesthetics, embracing grand elements in a nod to the couples' personal stories.

Karni Sena workers attack SP MP's house in Agra over Rana Sanga remarks

Karni Sena workers attack SP MP's house in Agra over Rana Sanga remarks

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

The residence of Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman was attacked in Agra by alleged workers of the Karni Sena, days after his remarks in Parliament on Rana Sanga triggered a row. The attack comes as the latest instance of violence in India stemming from historical figures and caste-based tensions. The Karni Sena demanded an apology from Suman and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for "insulting" their hero, while Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its claims of "zero tolerance" against crime.

SC orders status quo on well near Sambhal masjid

SC orders status quo on well near Sambhal masjid

Rediff.com11 Jan 2025

The Supreme Court of India has ordered a status quo on a private well located near the entrance of the Sambhal Jama Masjid, prohibiting any action regarding the well without its permission. The order came in response to a plea by the mosque's management committee, which challenged a lower court order that allowed a survey of the mosque, citing concerns over violence and loss of life during previous surveys. The court also instructed the authorities to file a status report within two weeks.

Fadnavis vows to put Azmi in jail as Akhilesh backs his MLA

Fadnavis vows to put Azmi in jail as Akhilesh backs his MLA

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, suspended from the Maharashtra assembly over his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, will be '100 per cent' put in jail, Chief Minister Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the legislative council.

History In 3 Minutes: Battle of Vasai

History In 3 Minutes: Battle of Vasai

Rediff.com18 Feb 2025

Chimaji Appaji remains one of the foremost military generals of the Maratha Empire who inflicted a crushing defeat on the Portuguese.

Centre delaying reply on Worship Act, Mathura mosque panel tells SC

Centre delaying reply on Worship Act, Mathura mosque panel tells SC

Rediff.com22 Jan 2025

The Mathura Shahi Masjid Eidgah Committee has approached the Supreme Court, requesting the court to prevent the central government from filing a response to a petition challenging the Places of Worship Act's constitutional validity. The committee accuses the BJP-led government of intentionally delaying its response. The court had previously issued a notice to the government in March 2021, but the government has yet to submit its reply despite numerous opportunities. The committee argues that the government's delay is intended to obstruct those opposing the challenge to the Places of Worship Act from filing their own responses. The petition also states that the pleas challenging the law's validity are scheduled for hearing on February 17, and closing the government's right to respond would serve justice. The Supreme Court previously issued a ruling in December 2022 that stopped courts from entertaining new lawsuits or issuing interim or final orders regarding the reclaiming of religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs. The ruling halted proceedings in 18 lawsuits filed by Hindu groups seeking surveys to confirm the original religious character of 10 mosques, including the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi, the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura, and the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. This decision was made in response to six petitions, including one filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, challenging various provisions of the Places of Worship Act. The 1991 law prohibits the conversion of places of worship and guarantees the preservation of their existing religious character as it stood on August 15, 1947. Notably, the dispute regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was excluded from this law. There are also several cross-petitions advocating for a strict enforcement of the 1991 law to uphold communal harmony and maintain the current status of mosques that Hindu groups seek to reclaim, claiming they were temples before being destroyed by invaders.

SC stays survey of Sambhal mosque, calls for peace

SC stays survey of Sambhal mosque, calls for peace

Rediff.com29 Nov 2024

The Supreme Court on Friday directed a Sambhal trial court to temporarily halt proceedings in the case over the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid and its survey at Chandausi while directing the UP government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-hit town.

When Hindus Greeted Muslims On Eid

When Hindus Greeted Muslims On Eid

Rediff.com7 Apr 2025

'I am determined now to celebrate all festivals together.' 'People don't respond much when you try to convince them by talking about principles of secularism etc. But if we revive our shared cultural practices, specially food, we may get a better response.'

Forget about AI, talk only about...: Owaisi amid Ajmer Sharif row

Forget about AI, talk only about...: Owaisi amid Ajmer Sharif row

Rediff.com2 Dec 2024

Owaisi criticized the court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, saying it weakens India and distracts from real issues like inflation and unemployment.

Of Mughals, Taj Mahal and 'traitors'

Of Mughals, Taj Mahal and 'traitors'

Rediff.com20 Oct 2017

The British were in India for over 300 years but they never became Indians. The East India Company sent all its loot back to London and the British empire continued that tradition. On the contrary, the Mughals did not send a single rupee outside India. So by what right does one call them traitors, asks A Ganesh Nadar.

Ajmer dargah row as politicians, community leaders weigh in

Ajmer dargah row as politicians, community leaders weigh in

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

A local court in Ajmer has issued notices to the dargah committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India on a plea seeking to declare the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti a temple. The petition, filed in September, has sparked a heated debate, with politicians and community leaders weighing in on the potentially volatile issue. The dargah committee has declined to comment, but the Anjuman Syed Zadgan, a body representing the caretakers of the dargah, described the petition as a deliberate attempt to fracture society along communal lines. The petition comes just days after four people were killed in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following a local court ordering survey of a Mughal-era shrine. The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which fixed August 15, 1947, as the cut-off date for status quo on the character of religious places, is at the centre of much of the debate. Several politicians, including Union minister Giriraj Singh and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, have weighed in on the issue. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called the civil court's decision to entertain the petition unwarranted and has asked the Supreme Court to immediately intervene.

Who Will Define What Is Negative News?

Who Will Define What Is Negative News?

Rediff.com10 Mar 2025

The government resolution does not spell out what action would be taken, if any, against those writing and publishing 'negative' news. Nor does it define 'negative news and "misinformation', explains Jyoti Punwani.

Rash of suits over shrines after SC's 2023 Gyanvapi order

Rash of suits over shrines after SC's 2023 Gyanvapi order

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

The Supreme Court's 2023 order refusing to stay a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi Mosque complex has sparked claims over several other disputed places of worship across India. This has led to several court cases, including one in Mathura where a survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque complex was ordered, and another in Ajmer where a claim was made that a Shiva temple existed within the dargah of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. The article also highlights a dispute over the Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh, which Hindus consider a temple and Muslims consider a mosque. The Supreme Court's order has reignited debates about the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits the change of character of religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947.

ASI inspects 'Skanda Purana' well at newly found Sambhal temple

ASI inspects 'Skanda Purana' well at newly found Sambhal temple

Rediff.com21 Dec 2024

On Friday, a four-member team of the ASI surveyed the recently-discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five pilgrimage sites and 19 'koops' (wells).

World's 'Oldest Saint' At Kumbh Mela

World's 'Oldest Saint' At Kumbh Mela

Rediff.com24 Jan 2025

Swami Shivanand Saraswati, known as the world's 'oldest saint', claims to be 129 years old and has been attending the Kumbh Mela for 100 years.

What Babur did in Ayodhya and Sambhal...: Adityanath

What Babur did in Ayodhya and Sambhal...: Adityanath

Rediff.com5 Dec 2024

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Opposition parties of trying to divide society, drawing a parallel between the violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh and historical events in Ayodhya and Sambhal. He criticized those who indulge in caste-based politics and said they are responsible for the current situation. Adityanath's comments come amid widespread violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh following the toppling of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Why Mughal-e-Azam will never die

Why Mughal-e-Azam will never die

Rediff.com28 Oct 2020

Did you know Nargis was to have played the Madhubala role, but opted out because she has reservations about working with Dilip Kumar? Do you know how Naushad and Shakeel Badayuni came up with the words for the immortal Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya?

Seers demand Sanskrit for Urdu words in Hindu context

Seers demand Sanskrit for Urdu words in Hindu context

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

The development comes after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while referring to the Lord Mahakal procession in Ujjain recently, used rajasi sawari instead of shahi sawari.

Outsiders barred as toll in Sambhal violence rises to 4

Outsiders barred as toll in Sambhal violence rises to 4

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

The toll in the clashes between police and protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, rose to four following the death of one more injured person, officials said on Monday.

Revival of mandir-masjid disputes unacceptable: RSS chief

Revival of mandir-masjid disputes unacceptable: RSS chief

Rediff.com20 Dec 2024

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over the resurgence of temple-mosque disputes and asserted that certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, seem to believe they can become "leaders of Hindus" by raking up such issues. He advocated for an inclusive society and said the world needs to be shown that India can live together in harmony.

'Thought nothing will happen after Babri case, but...'

'Thought nothing will happen after Babri case, but...'

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

A body representing the 'Khadims' of the Ajmer dargah has condemned a plea in a local court that seeks to declare the shrine of Khawaja Gharib Nawaz as a temple, saying right-wing forces were trying to "isolate" Muslims and "disrupt" communal harmony in the country.

Dharma doesn't mean eat this, don't eat that: RSS chief

Dharma doesn't mean eat this, don't eat that: RSS chief

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

Some elements are creating obstacles in the path of India's development and are fearful of its rise on the global stage, but they will not succeed, he asserted.

ASI seeks control of Sambhal mosque post violence, cites heritage status

ASI seeks control of Sambhal mosque post violence, cites heritage status

Rediff.com1 Dec 2024

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has sought control and management of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, citing its status as a protected heritage structure. The request comes after violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of the mosque, which was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site. The ASI has argued that unauthorized changes to the mosque's structure by the management committee are unlawful and should be restricted. A three-member judicial commission has been formed to probe the violence and is expected to visit Sambhal on Sunday.

SP MP, MLA's son booked over Sambhal violence

SP MP, MLA's son booked over Sambhal violence

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

Seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, naming Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal as accused. Three people were killed and scores of others injured on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid clashed with police. The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders into Sambhal till November 30.

Amit Shah slams Indian historians, says they gave prominence to Mughals only

Amit Shah slams Indian historians, says they gave prominence to Mughals only

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

The home minister said reference books should be written on these empires and if they are written, "the history which we believe wrong will gradually fade away and truth will emerge".

RSS-linked magazine contradicts Bhagwat on Sambhal dispute

RSS-linked magazine contradicts Bhagwat on Sambhal dispute

Rediff.com26 Dec 2024

The latest issue of "Organiser", an RSS-linked magazine, has argued that the ongoing dispute over the Shri Harihar Mandir in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, is not about religious supremacy but about seeking "civilisational justice" by uncovering historical truth. The editorial, penned by Prafulla Ketkar, editor of "Organiser", contends that the debate should not be limited to a Hindu-Muslim perspective but should encompass a wider discussion on historical truths and social justice. The magazine further criticizes the Congress's handling of caste and religious issues, accusing it of whitewashing historical injustices and promoting a false narrative about Mughal rulers.

ASI roped in for carbon dating of Sambhal temple; PAC jawans deployed

ASI roped in for carbon dating of Sambhal temple; PAC jawans deployed

Rediff.com15 Dec 2024

The Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, has reopened after being locked for 45 years following communal riots. The district administration has requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct carbon dating of the temple, including a well on the premises. The temple is being guarded round the clock and worshippers have started visiting. The reopening of the temple has been met with gratitude from local residents, who have expressed their desire to reconnect with their heritage.